Mr. Speaker, two weeks ago I visited Nova Scotia to see the Sydney tar ponds, one of Canada's biggest environmental disasters. Yesterday I had the chance to see the Taro dump site in Hamilton. Both sites are in desperate need of a federal environmental assessment and yet it seems the minister is doing all he can to stay miles away from these controversies.
Sheila Copps had the power to hold full panel environmental reviews but never did. Is the new minister prepared to use his statutory powers or will he hide his head in the sand like his predecessor?