House of Commons Hansard #55 of the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was cuts.
Karen Redman Liberal Kitchener Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, if the Commissioner of the RCMP has the full confidence of this government, why were media inquiries to the RCMP directed to the minister's office?
Stockwell Day ConservativeMinister of Public Safety
Mr. Speaker, as any hard-working journalist does, and there are those in our midst, when they are pursuing a story they phone a variety of departments. I am sure they called the RCMP. I know that other colleagues of mine were getting requests at their departments related to the Arar report.
If the member is asking questions about the media, should she not be meeting with the media and asking them why they are making calls to different places?
Gilles Duceppe Bloc Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC
Mr. Speaker, in her report, the environment commissioner issued a warning to the government. She described as “too little, too slow” the government's efforts to achieve the Kyoto protocol objectives. She also mentioned the urgency for setting targets for substantially reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Will the Minister of the Environment finally listen to reason and ensure that her government implements measures to meet the Kyoto protocol objectives?
Jason Kenney ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister
Mr. Speaker, it is quite clear that this government is going to seek to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This year we will introduce the first Canadian clean air act.
It is a difficult task because we have inherited the Liberal's record, under which greenhouse gas emissions increased by over 30%. It is not easy for us to resolve the environmental problems that were created by the Liberals.
Gilles Duceppe Bloc Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC
Mr. Speaker, in an interview the environment commissioner said that a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions must absolutely target the oil companies or it would likely be ineffective.
My question is for the Minister of Natural Resources this time. Will he apply the commissioner's recommendation and target the oil companies in his plan? Could this minister, or the Minister of the Environment respond?
Jason Kenney ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister
Mr. Speaker, we will act in a responsible manner in the interest of Canada on environmental matters. We will not target just any Canadians, Canadian groups or regions of Canada. We do not want to attack Canadians to find solutions to our environmental problems.
We will take action. It is clear that the Liberals did not do anything on this. In 13 years under the Liberal government, greenhouse gas emissions increased by more than 30%. That is shameful.
Bernard Bigras Bloc Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC
Mr. Speaker, both ministers seem to be hiding today. The environment commissioner told the committee that working with the provinces—including Quebec—was of utmost importance, and that the territorial approach clearly had its advantages.
Will the government finally listen to reason and accept that a territorial approach is a much better way to reach the Kyoto protocol targets than its ideological approach that helps big oil while taking a toll on environmental protection?
Mark Warawa ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, we agree with the recommendations of the commissioner. Those recommendations were that the previous Liberal government did too little and too slow and it was poorly managed.
This government is a government of action. Our action will provide clean air and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Bernard Bigras Bloc Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC
Mr. Speaker, the biggest greenhouse gas emitters are oil companies, especially those in Alberta, that are significantly increasing their emissions as they boost their petroleum production.
How can the government keep giving tax breaks to big oil without imposing severe restrictions forcing them to significantly reduce their greenhouse gas emissions? Can the government set aside its ideological approach, which panders to oil companies, in favour of a more constructive approach to the Kyoto protocol?
Mark Warawa ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, I am glad the member across is so excited about our plan, but unfortunately I am not going to be providing details on that plan today. He is going to have to wait.
Also, the commissioner said that the Kyoto target was not achievable and that is to the blame of the previous Liberal government. She has asked and recommended that we set targets. We agree with those recommendations and our targets will be achievable.
Jack Layton NDP Toronto—Danforth, ON
Mr. Speaker, once again, the Prime Minister is disputing climate change. He says it is too complicated.
The environment commissioner says it is not really that complicated. Greenhouse gas emissions from the oil and natural gas sectors have risen 51% in 16 years. The tar sands will double that within nine years.
When will the government impose a moratorium on tar sands development?
Jason Kenney ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister
Mr. Speaker, this government has a responsibility to Canadians to implement an accountable, sustainable energy and environment policy. That is what we will do. We will act far more responsibly than our predecessors, who did nothing at all for the environment.
We will pursue an energy policy that works well for all Canadians.
Jack Layton NDP Toronto—Danforth, ON
Mr. Speaker, the commissioner of the environment has delivered a stinging indictment on Liberal inaction on climate change. No mandatory standards, no action on--
The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken
Order, please. The hon. member for Toronto—Danforth has the floor. The House will want to hear his question.
Jack Layton NDP Toronto—Danforth, ON
Mr. Speaker, this stinging indictment of Liberal inaction included no mandatory standards, no big polluters, no action on the oil sands, and five climate change plans that amounted to nothing more than hot air from over there.
For years we had a government that was missing in action, and now we have a minister missing in action. Looking at this government's record over the last eight months, how can Canadians have any confidence at all that this government is going to be any better on climate change than the previous one?
Jason Kenney ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister
Mr. Speaker, he was doing so well at the beginning of his question.
Let me just reinforce what he was saying in the words of a Liberal member of Parliament, who said recently, “We had one smog day in 1993 and 48 last year...Smog costs us in indirect health care costs and also absenteeism”. That was said by the member for St. Paul's, former Liberal leadership candidate.
Let us guess what happened in 1993. The Liberal government was elected.
Albina Guarnieri Liberal Mississauga East—Cooksville, ON
Mr. Speaker, the NDP member himself is adept at blowing hot air.
Canadians who lost sons--
The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken
Order. We will have a little order. The hon. member for Mississauga East—Cooksville has the floor. We must have a little order to hear this question.
Albina Guarnieri Liberal Mississauga East—Cooksville, ON
Mr. Speaker, Canadians who have lost sons and daughters in Afghanistan were themselves wounded by the remarks of Pakistan's President Musharraf who belittled their sacrifice and ridiculed their courage and resolve. Amazingly, our Prime Minister responded with flattery for Mr. Musharraf.
When will the Conservative Prime Minister defend the honour of our troops and, for once, actually stand up for Canada?
Peter MacKay ConservativeMinister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Mr. Speaker, this government is standing up very strongly for Canadians and for the Afghan people in Afghanistan today.
With respect to these comments, clearly President Musharraf and our own Prime Minister understand that we have to work collectively. We have to work constructively and collaboratively in this mission in Afghanistan with 37 other NATO countries in a UN backed mission to help the people of Afghanistan stand on their own two feet.
Then, and only then, can we get on with the important development and good governance needed for the Afghan people.
Albina Guarnieri Liberal Mississauga East—Cooksville, ON
Mr. Speaker, Canadians know that the copyright for “Stand up for Canada” ran out during the election.
Earlier this summer, the Prime Minister responded to the death of a Canadian soldier on UN duty by defending those who killed him and questioning why he was even there. Why does the Prime Minister trumpet our military's effort and then fall silent when their courage and competence is challenged?
Peter MacKay ConservativeMinister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Mr. Speaker, I am very surprised to hear this type of rhetoric coming from that hon. member.
The reality is that we are working with 37 other countries in an important mission, an important effort to bring dignity and humanitarian efforts and rights to the people of Afghanistan. It is important to bring about good governance and democracy for the people of Afghanistan.
The member knows full well that Canada is there doing important work on behalf of this country, on behalf of Afghanistan, because she voted for it when she was a member of the previous government that sent our soldiers there.
Judy Sgro Liberal York West, ON
Mr. Speaker, the comments by President Musharraf represent a diplomatic failure by the government. The president of Pakistan, a key player in this region, seemed to be oblivious to both the sacrifices that Canadians are making and the legitimate concerns we have with respect to the flow of arms and insurgents across the Pakistani border.
Why is the government undermining Canada's commitment to the reconstruction of Afghanistan by not putting the necessary resources into the diplomatic component of our mission?