Debates of June 3rd, 2014

Privacy

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, how can someone who helped create these surveillance programs and gave them a green light now look at them objectively and tell us whether they respect Canadians' privacy? It is impossible. That is the very essence of a conflict of interest. That is quite clear. Even Mr. Therrien admitted that he will be forced to recuse himself in the case I just mentioned.

Did the Nadon affair not teach them anything about making curious appointments?

[Tony Clement, Conservative, President of the Treasury Board]

Mr. Speaker, according to the Leader of the Opposition, actually having experience on legal matters and on privacy matters disqualifies someone for a post. Actually having 30 years of experience serving the public disqualifies that person for the post.

That is what the Leader of the Opposition is selling. Perhaps he will put it in a mail-out soon.

The Environment

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister claims that he is waiting for the United States to take action to combat climate change before we in Canada can take action ourselves. The American government is moving ahead with new regulations for the sector that is its largest polluter, coal. Are the Conservatives finally going to move to reduce greenhouse gases in the sector that is Canada's largest polluter, oil and gas?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, as stated yesterday in the House, we took action two years ago. We welcome the Obama administration on its move towards this. I look forward to reviewing further details of its action plan.

Again, we took action on this two years ago, which means that our regulations will come into effect sooner than the United States'. We also estimate that we will achieve a 46% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in this sector by 2030, compared to 30% in the United States.

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the reality is that the Americans are now on track to meet their Copenhagen targets, which Canada will miss by 50%. That is the truth.

The United States is taking real action, and it is not buying the Conservatives' excuses. Last night the U.S. ambassador called on Canada to match America's latest move by adopting new climate change rules for our largest emitting industry, oil and gas.

It is a straightforward question. Are we going to get new climate change rules for big oil and gas companies, or are we just going to get more excuses from the Conservatives?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, I think many people forget that Canada represents less than 2% of the global greenhouse gas emissions, while the United States produces almost 20%. The coal-fired energy generations in the United States produces twice the greenhouse gas emissions than all the emissions produced in Canada.

We are pleased that the United States is following in Canada's footsteps, and we will continue to build on our record and work with the United States to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions internationally.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the President of the United States proposed meaningful regulations to reduce emissions from its largest source of carbon pollution.

In Canada, the oil and gas industry is our largest source of greenhouse gases. Since 2006, the government has promised regulations to reduce that industry's emissions. So when, precisely, will we see those regulations?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, as stated in the House two years ago, in the absence of that leader, we have reduced the greenhouse gas emissions. We are acting on this and we welcome the United States moving on the greenhouse gas regulations related to this sector.

Again, I think many people forget that Canada produces less than 2% of the global greenhouse gas emissions. The coal-fired energy sector in the United States produces—

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

I know the minister will want to be careful not to point out the presence or absence of members. That is unparliamentary.

The hon. member for Papineau.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, for years the government's excuse for a total lack of action on climate change was the need to coordinate regulation with the United States. Well, the world's largest economy and our largest trading partner just unilaterally proposed regulations on its highest carbon polluting sector.

When will Canada follow suit?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, it was Michael Ignatieff who said that the Liberals did not get it done.

Our priority is to protect the environment, while keeping our economy strong. We have made significant investments to begin Canada's transition to the clean energy economy and advance our climate change objectives. We have recently announced and launched the national conservation plan that promotes our government's strong legacy of conservation work and includes new investments to secure ecologically sensitive land and conserve marine and coastal areas. I am proud of a government that is getting results.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this government has been telling us for years that it is important for us to coordinate our regulations with those of our largest trading partner. Yesterday, the Americans acted. They decided to tackle climate change by regulating carbon emissions from the sector that is their largest polluter.

The government has been promising us regulations for eight years. When will it finally wake up and take action?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, in the first 21 years, Canada's coal regulations are expected to result in a cumulative reduction in emissions equivalent to removing 2.6 million personal vehicles from the roads a year. We are also the first major coal user to ban the construction of traditional coal-fired electricity generation units.

I am proud to be part of a government that is getting action for Canadians and producing real results for Canada.

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to make a clarification. Canada is one of the 10 worst countries in the world in terms of the fight against climate change. It is not just 2% per capita.

President Obama's ambitious proposal marks a turning point in the fight against climate change. One of the biggest greenhouse gas emitters has finally agreed to face up to its responsibilities by targeting the sector that is its largest polluter. The Conservative government, which favoured a North American approach, must now keep its word.

When will the Conservatives announce their greenhouse gas reduction target for the oil and gas sectors? It was not done two years ago; it has still not been done. We are still waiting.

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, again, where were those members two years ago when we announced the greenhouse gas emissions for this sector?

We welcome the move from the United States to address this issue. We took action in this sector two years ago, which means that our regulations will come into effect sooner than those of the United States. We also estimate that we will achieve a 46% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in this sector by 2030, compared to 30% in the United States.

We also have one of the cleanest energy systems in the world, with 77% of our electricity supply emitting no greenhouse gases.

[Megan Leslie, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives are having a hard time keeping all of their fossil fuel buddies straight.

We are talking about Canada's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, the oil and gas industry. Instead of regulating the industry, the Conservatives are giving it billions in subsidies.

Conservatives have made excuses. They have dragged their heels. They have broken promise after promise to act. They have said that we have to wait for the U.S. Now, our largest trading partner is urging us to act.

No more excuses. When will we see regulations for the oil and gas sector?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, again, for many people in Canada who are not aware, Canada represents less than 2% of the global greenhouse gas emissions, while the United States produces almost 20%. The coal-fired energy generations in the United States produce twice the greenhouse gas emissions than all of the emissions produced in Canada.

We also have one of the cleanest electricity systems in the world, with 77% of our electricity supply—

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

The hon. member for Halifax.

Natural Resources

[Megan Leslie, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the minister still seems to be confusing America's big emitters, coal, with Canada's big emitters, oil and gas.

Speaking of oil and gas, the northern gateway puts thousands of jobs at risk and it threatens our coastline with oil spills. Today, 300 scientists told the Prime Minister that the review panel was so flawed that it could not be used to justify the pipeline.

Will the Conservatives listen to public opinion and the facts, and turn down this pipeline?

[Greg Rickford, Conservative, Minister of Natural Resources and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, that decision is before cabinet. We have no further comment.

Privacy

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today, Conservatives continued undermining the independent officers of Parliament. There was less than an hour to vet the nomination for the privacy commissioner, which has raised alarm bells across the country. The Conservatives ignored the precedent of having a review with expert witnesses and the Prime Minister even overturned the recommendation of his own hiring committee.

At a time when the government has declared open season on the privacy rights of Canadians, why are Conservatives undermining Parliament and ramming through such a controversial appointment without input from privacy experts?

[Tony Clement, Conservative, President of the Treasury Board]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is mistaken on several fronts.

The candidate appeared before committee today, as we all wanted him to do. I think he defended himself extremely well. He is clearly the best candidate for the position.

There was a rigorous process in the search for a successor to the previous privacy commissioner. I was very happy to recommend who I considered to be the best choice for that job. I am sure he will do an excellent job, should Parliament accept him.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague, but unfortunately, what has happened is the Prime Minister's contempt for due process has undermined both the privacy commissioner and Mr. Therrien himself. The members refuse to allow him time to answer simple questions about conflict of interest, about his expertise and about data sharing.

Canadians are looking to the privacy commissioner to stand up for their rights. Today, at committee, Mr. Therrien said that even he agreed that the government's widespread assault on privacy rights should be held in abeyance until he could get up to speed to review the legislation.

Would the Conservatives at least agree to that?

[Peter MacKay, Conservative, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, the privacy rights of Canadians are a huge priority for this government. That is why we have taken the time to ensure that we consulted with the interim Privacy Commissioner prior to the naming of the new officer. That is why we have made this such a priority for our government.

The activities of government's law enforcement, as well as security agencies across the country, are subject to judicial and independent oversight. However, the question for the hon. member is this. When is going to respect taxpayer money when it comes to the use of illegal offices and illegal mailouts?

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, when I was a kid, and other kids changed the rules in the middle of the game, we called them cheaters.

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association, the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario, the entire legal community and even the Conservatives' selection committee think that the Prime Minister has made a poor choice. In fact, when your only support comes from the leader of the Liberal Party, who is not particularly known for his judgment or his astute analysis, you are in trouble and you appoint a commissioner who will be in a clear conflict of interest.

People are right to be concerned about their privacy. When will the Prime Minister admit that he has made another mistake?