Mr. Speaker, Canadians living in my riding of Waterloo—Wellington and indeed Canadians all across Canada are very concerned about our environment. They want to know that all levels of government and all partners are doing their utmost to secure a safe and clean environment for the generations to follow.
Canadians want and demand action on issues concerning the environment. As a government we need to provide vision and leadership in tackling the environmental challenges it faces. We need to provide that vision and leadership in the context of sustainable development strategies which are beneficial for the country.
A key environmental challenge facing Canadians is climate change. Climate change could bring about such possible long term effects as drier summers in the prairies, increases in forest fires and insect infestations, coastal flooding and more frequent extreme weather events. All of this could be very devastating for Canada and all Canadians.
It is clear we need to act now. I am heartened to know that the government has accepted that the risk of climate change is real and that the consequences are potentially very devastating. I am heartened to know that Canada is considered to be a leader in international negotiations on climate change.
The federal government has the responsibility to lead the nation in responding to climate change. It needs to ensure that partnerships are well defined. It needs to have targets to measure progress and it needs to have contingency plans for corrective actions if required.
The federal government should continue to defend the interests of all Canadians. It should lead us into the new millennium with vision and judgement.
In light of all of this, my question for the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources is simple. What steps are being taken by the government to ensure that Canada meets commitments made in Kyoto last December? What are we doing to secure our environment for future generations?