Mr. Chair, that was a non-answer.
Let me say that I have also witnessed a first this evening. This is the first time the Conservatives have actually acknowledged that it is a team effort. They did not tell us how much the provinces have contributed, but up until now, for the past number of years, they have made it sound as if it has been only through their efforts that the actual numbers have been reduced. I am not even talking about the slowdown in the economy. It is the first time there has been some kind of recognition that the provinces are also playing a role in this.
Let me go on to my next question. Canada has the opportunity to be a world leader. The Conservative government claims that it is a world leader in renewable energy. Why is it that the government is missing the opportunity, with its staggering $328 million in cuts to clean energy funding? For example, there is $162 million cut from the clean energy fund and $60 million cut from the ecoENERGY for biofuels fund. There is $59 million cut from the grant for Sustainable Development Technology Canada for next generation biofuels.
How is it that the government is able to go down to the United States and to Europe and say that it is taking all sorts of responsible actions, when it is cutting the programs that are intended to develop the clean energy sources we need to have in this country?