House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2004, with 35% of the vote.
Kyoto Protocol February 20th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, it is true that we have so far invested $3.7 billion toward the necessary goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It is quite likely that in another two, three, maybe seven years the Minister of Finance might increase that amount. The announcement by the Minister of Finance two days ago of another $2 billion is still not bad, yet the hon. member is already complaining. When most of that amount has been spent, then perhaps it will be the right time to ask for more.
The Budget February 19th, 2003
It's a skeleton.
The Budget February 19th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, I wish the hon. member would read the budget and perhaps look at yesterday's televised version.
She will discover that there is an extra $3 billion in infrastructure moneys, in addition to $5 billion put aside, that can be used by municipalities for transit projects. She will see there is $2 billion of which $1.7 billion is available for municipalities if they put forward transit schemes which reduce greenhouse gases in a manner which is competitive with other proposals that come forward from municipalities and other partners.
There is plenty of opportunity for the municipalities. The challenge is for them to do something about it.
The Environment February 12th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, I will have to take up this matter with the Minister of Finance. He is clearly telling the hon. critic for the Alliance Party a great deal more than he is telling me.
If indeed the hon. member is right and large amounts of money are coming to Environment Canada for Kyoto measures, all I can say is, that is a very good cause and a very good way to spend money.
The Environment February 12th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, delighted as I am to have the support of the hon. member for large amounts of money for Environment Canada, I must point out that it is the Minister of Finance, not the environment critic for the Alliance, who will be making these decisions and announcing them on Tuesday next.
Question No. 91 January 31st, 2003
The Antarctic is an environmentally critical region for Canada and the world. It is an important home to birds, seals, plants and serves as a global indicator of climate change.
Canadians are active in the Antarctic. We are conducting research on the Antarctic environment, active in tourism, and our technology is widely applied in the region.
Canada is a signatory to the Protocol on Environmental Protection under the Antarctic Treaty, the Madrid Protocol, designed to protect the fragile Antarctic environment.
Ratification of this Protocol is a priority for this Government.
It is of particular importance to the Minister of the Environment and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Justice, Fisheries and Oceans, Natural Resources Canada and Transport.
Officials from these departments, including legal counsel and policy analysts, are working on the legal and other mechanisms required for ratification.
It is the minister’s goal to achieve ratification within the year. Background In 1991, Canada signed the Protocol on Environmental Protection under the Antarctic Treaty, commonly referred to as the Madrid Protocol. This protocol is designed to protect the fragile Antarctic environment. Under the protocol, countries agree to exercise strict control over the activities of their nationals in Antarctica, and to conform with agreed rules of operation to prevent pollution and environmental degradation.
A federal process leading to the ratification of the Madrid Protocol was launched in the fall of 2002. Environment Canada and DFAIT are leading the process in conjunction with an interdepartmental committee that includes Justice, DFO, CEAA, TC, PCO and NRCan.
DFO: Department of Fisheries and Oceans
CEAA: Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
TC: Transport Canada
PCO: Privy Council Office
NRCan: Natural Resources Canada
Cartagena Protocol January 31st, 2003
Mr. Speaker, the importance of having environmental considerations taken into account when trade arrangements are made is I think understood by all of us in the House.
We are trying hard to ensure that the environmental considerations are indeed a major component of any decision on the trade side. Therefore, we look with favour to the WTO taking environmental concerns into account as a fundamental part of its discussions.
With respect to the hon. member's question, we will be pursuing that avenue to ensure both with the Cartagena protocol and with many others that we achieve the best environmental protection we can through this method.
Iraq January 29th, 2003
Mr. Chairman, the right hon. gentleman made one point which I may not have heard correctly, but he certainly can indicate if I have misunderstood, and that is that we should vigorously search for asylum for Saddam Hussein, obviously somewhere outside of Iraq.
He nods, so I believe that this was part of his statement. In which case, virtually every country that I have been thinking of in the last few minutes would undoubtedly say, “If you wish asylum for Saddam Hussein, why don't you take him yourself?” Is he willing to have Saddam Hussein here in Canada, perhaps in his own riding of Calgary? If so, would he be willing to provide the immunity from prosecution for the crimes against humanity of Saddam Hussein if he did in fact come here, as undoubtedly we will be pushed very strongly if we adopted the right hon. gentleman's proposal?
Could he answer those two questions?
Assisted Human Reproduction Act January 29th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. For the record, while there happens to be a quorum in the room, I notice only three members of the Alliance, one to listen to the hon. member--
Species at Risk January 29th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, I can inform the hon. member that we expect proclamation in June. I thank him for his support on this legislation.
In the meantime, we will be working under the stewardship programs of the act and under the money made available by the Minister of Finance in past budgets on the issue of stewardship throughout, with the provinces, territories and with landowners.
Finally, if there is need for further information sessions, we will arrange those before June.