Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for providing this opportunity to further explain the approach and actions the federal government is employing to achieve further CO2 reductions.
First, with regard to approach the government is committed to working with provincial governments and major stakeholders to achieve these reductions.
The government is also committed to employing those policy instruments that can offer the lowest cost and most flexible methods of achieving further reductions. This includes energy efficiency regulations, voluntary initiatives, technological support, public education and tax changes to encourage investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy.
Actions to date under the national action program on climate change have helped to lower projected emissions from 13 per cent to 8 per cent above 1990 levels by the year 2000.
With respect to specific actions the federal government announced 45 new or expanded initiatives in December 1996 to help lower emissions in most sectors in our society.
Among other initiatives there is a strengthened focus on renewable energy and an increased support for green power pilot projects to supply electricity to federal departments.
National climate change outreach initiatives seek to engage educators and different stakeholders to develop ways and means of better informing Canadians about climate change.
In the residential sector the federal government will work to adopt and apply the national energy code for houses to federally owned and leased houses, as well as to produce a home energy efficiency rating system for homebuilders, renovators and buyers.
There will also be an expansion of energy efficiency regulations to include a number of energy using products in the commercial, residential and industrial sectors.
Further, the federal government in co-operation with provincial governments and the private sector will be strengthening the voluntary challenge and registry program, VCR.
Meeting our country's commitment on schedule will not be easy. While we are achieving progress through improvements in energy efficiency and energy substitution, this progress is being offset by our increased population and strong economic growth.
In spite of these challenges I emphasize that Canada has been making progress on reductions. Moreover, the new and expanded initiatives promise further carbon dioxide reductions. We have the initiatives and momentum in place for further progress.