Mr. Speaker, the leader of the NDP had no choice but to visit the oil sands after he described this resource as a “disease”. He clearly stated that he does not support the oil sands and would like to see their development halted, which would mean the loss of thousands of jobs.
Those comments followed others made by other obstinate NDP members, calling for a moratorium on oil sands development. Their opposition to resource development is harmful to all regions of Canada and will hurt Quebec's Plan Nord, for instance.
While the NDP is trying to quietly advance its anti-development agenda, there remains no doubt that it wants to shut down an industry that brings in billions of dollars for the Government of Canada and pays for important social programs such as education and health care.
We will let him visit the oil sands, but we will not forget that he wants to impose a carbon tax, shut down development of the oil sands and kill thousands of jobs.