Debates of May 2nd, 2006

The Environment

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

Order, please. The hon. member for Don Valley West has the floor.

[John Godfrey, Liberal, Don Valley West, ON]

Yet, Mr. Speaker, the Minister of the Environment recently said she was going to follow the American lead in establishing the so-called made in Canada scheme, and of course the NDP has sold out on Kyoto, so what are we going to end up with? A plan that all the provinces of Canada want to work toward or an ineffective scheme copied from the United States?

[Rona Ambrose, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to Canadians first, committed to a made in Canada solution that will reduce both pollution and greenhouse gases. The difference between our made in Canada solution and the Liberals' Kyoto plan is that the Liberals were willing to spend billions in taxpayer money overseas and we refuse to do that. We will invest in a made in Canada plan where Canadians come first.

[John Godfrey, Liberal, Don Valley West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Quebec environment minister wrote to the federal minister, however, asking her to speed up negotiations to conclude a federal-provincial agreement.

Why does the minister prefer to negotiate with the United States rather than with Canadian provinces such as Quebec?

[Rona Ambrose, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, I have met with my Quebec counterpart and all of my provincial counterparts. The provinces are very eager to work with us. They will be very much a part of our made in Canada solution, Canadians will come first, and Quebec is a part of that plan.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is clear for those of us who are working on new and creative solutions to global warming that this government simply does not get it. Our Minister of the Environment worked with Premier Ralph Klein to fight and take down Kyoto. Just recently, the Prime Minister appointed Gwyn Morgan, a well-known anti-Kyoto industrialist, as a senior adviser.

After signalling to the world that Canada will not cooperate on Kyoto, the government turns around and slashes and burns 15 programs on climate change. My question for the Prime Minister is simple. Is he taking his lead on his so-called made in Canada climate change plan from Ralph Klein, Gwyn Morgan or Washington?

[Rona Ambrose, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned before, this government is committed to made in Canada solutions to deliver clean air and clean water and soil for the health of Canadians. In fact, Dr. Rick Smith from Environmental Defence said in a news release that he is encouraged by this government's comments on greenhouse gases and pollution reduction.

Dr. Smith went on to say that “if the new federal government is interested in tangible improvements on this crucial issue we say 'It's about time' and we'll be the first in line to work with the government to make this happen”.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, clearly, Canadians should not look to this government for climate change solutions. This much is clear. We know that the current Minister of the Environment was once appointed by Premier Ralph Klein to fight against climate change solutions, including Kyoto. Last week, Gwyn Morgan, a former CEO in the oil industry who is well known for his opposition to the Kyoto accord, was appointed as a senior advisor to the government.

Will the Prime Minister finally admit to this House that he has no new ideas in mind to fight against climate change and that he is quite content to copy the policies of his home province?

[Rona Ambrose, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, as I have said before, we are making progress on our plan. We are working closely with both industry and the provinces, which are eager to make a change. The provinces have been very clear that they also do not support seeing taxpayer money go overseas under the former Liberal Kyoto plan. They want to see investment in Canadian provinces, in Canadian technology and in Canadians.

Aboriginal Affairs

[Dave Batters, Conservative, Palliser, SK]

Mr. Speaker, when the member for Wascana sat in cabinet in the previous Liberal government, he claimed that he was going to move the head office of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada to his riding in Regina. Just recently, in opposition, he sent out literature to his constituents referring to a move for INAC as his work in progress.

Would the minister responsible tell the House if any plans are in place to move INAC to Regina or has the member for Wascana misinformed the citizens of Regina?

[Jim Prentice, Conservative, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians]

Mr. Speaker, upon assuming this role, I had my colleagues from Regina inquiring enthusiastically as to where things stood regarding the move of the INAC head office to Regina.

The puzzling thing is this. My officials tell me that no move was ever contemplated, studied or planned. In fact, the former minister said variously that he had not heard anything about it, he did not know anything about it and there were no plans to relocate.

I do not know on what basis the member for Wascana is sending out literature bragging that this is his work in progress. Some work, some progress: where I come from, we call it bogus.

Hepatitis C

[Penny Priddy, NDP, Surrey North, BC]

Mr. Speaker, when the Conservatives were in opposition they promised all victims of the tainted blood tragedy compensation. Pre-1986 and post-1990, thousands were infected with hepatitis C as a result of the failure of the Canadian government and were not compensated by the Liberals.

Does the Minister of Health have a plan to immediately compensate these victims?

[Tony Clement, Conservative, Minister of Health and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, as hon. members on both sides of the House know, this issue has been festering for a number of years. We made a campaign pledge and we intend to keep it.

[Penny Priddy, NDP, Surrey North, BC]

Mr. Speaker, that is not really good enough. When the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health used to speak about this issue, he would promise compensation immediately after the Conservatives were elected. That was three months ago and there is still no compensation.

Why did the government not move immediately after the election to compensate all hepatitis C victims and right this awful Liberal wrong? What is taking this government so long?

[Tony Clement, Conservative, Minister of Health and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, I can assure the hon. member that this is one of my top priorities. I know there has been a little barracking on both sides of the House, but I can tell the hon. member that this is a priority for this government. We are moving with alacrity. I can tell the hon. member that after 13 years of non-action, we will see action with this Prime Minister's government.

The Environment

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Quebeckers and all Canadians have serious concerns about the intentions of the Conservatives with regard to reducing greenhouse gases. Not only is their plan costly, it is also ineffective. Rather than spouting the usual platitudes, the Minister of the Environment should act responsibly.

Why is she doing nothing to contribute to the development of public transit? Why is she doing nothing to foster sustainable development? Why is she doing nothing?

[Rona Ambrose, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, again I reiterate the government's commitment to the reduction of greenhouse gases and pollution that was outlined in the Speech from the Throne and will be a part of our environmental agenda as we move forward. I am very proud of that because in our environmental plan Canadians come first. We will be investing in Canadian technology and in Canadians, not in sending taxpayer money overseas to buy international credits.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I don't know what planet the minister lives on, but I can assure her that here on earth climate change is a serious issue.

The Conservatives are abandoning Kyoto and the fight against climate change. By abandoning proven programs, they are abandoning Canadians. The minister is abandoning Canadian leadership by abandoning the United Nations.

Why has the Minister of the Environment become the minister of abandonment?

[Rona Ambrose, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, we take our obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention very seriously. I understand those obligations. I am presently presiding as president of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. We are participating vigorously in that process to defend the interests of Canadians.

[Mark Eyking, Liberal, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

Mr. Speaker, in 2004, our government committed $280 million to clean up the Sydney tar ponds. This project is now underway and my community is seeing positive results. Recently, the Minister of the Environment would not respond to questions on further cleanup funding.

My question is for the Minister of the Environment. Is the government committed to the federal share of $280 million to clean up the Sydney tar ponds?

[Rona Ambrose, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, this is an issue that we are following very closely. We have been involved in the assessment. When I was in Atlantic Canada I met with the minister for the environment in this area and we are working very diligently on this issue.

[Mark Eyking, Liberal, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the House is getting tired of that kind of answer. The minister has been here two months and--

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

Order, please. The hon. member for Sydney—Victoria has the floor. We will have a little order, please.

[Mark Eyking, Liberal, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the tar ponds, along with many other contaminated sites in this country, are in desperate need of environmental cleanup. Our government budgeted $1 billion to clean up these brownfields. The NDP, along with the Conservatives, derailed this initiative.

Could the minister confirm whether the government will continue our Liberal commitment? Will she show some leadership and instruct her officials to fast track the work of the brownfield cleanup?