Mr. Speaker, that is not very generous, but it will be enough.
I would like to congratulate my colleague from Brome—Missisquoi on his motion. When it comes to the environment and protecting biodiversity, every little bit counts. It is essential.
However, I only have two minutes to point out the irony of the situation. Last week, the former environment minister stepped down. This minister, who I believe had a key cabinet role, quit for environmental reasons. While it is true that every little bit counts when it comes to the environment, last week, the government unfortunately demonstrated that it did not have the courage to uphold regulations, ones that I already think are flawed, in order to leave a somewhat cleaner and healthier environment for future generations. Now that is saying something.
I worked on the Standing Committee on Natural Resources on the issue of capping greenhouse gas emissions. Instead of actually capping emissions, the government is using carbon capture and storage strategies to try to reduce the footprint of a sector that could have produced more. This half-measure did not achieve consensus, and many environmental groups said that it was insufficient.
Well, last week, the government completely scrapped this measure, to put it mildly. We are dealing with a government that is prepared to stoop to new lows for the oil and gas sector while being unwilling to implement robust measures to protect the environment, at a time when other economic sectors with a much lower carbon footprint than the oil and gas sector are being shut out. Last week, the government announced that it was ready to turn on the taps for the oil sector. We know that there will be no pipeline, but billions of dollars will still be invested in tax credits for carbon capture and storage. It is shameful.