David Anderson

[Kyoto Protocol, December 9th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I am tempted to take note of the lengthy preamble of the hon. member. He talks about the investment freeze but it was in the House that I gave the figures, in response to a question about investment freeze from the other side, which pointed out that drilling rig utilization in western Canada this year was at the highest level it has been for years. These companies have had the opportunity to consider this since the Prime Minister announced the ratification in 2002, which he did in June 2001, and since he announced it in Johannesburg two months ago. It is perfectly clear that the industry out in western Canada is continuing to expand its operations despite its alleged investment freeze.

He then goes on to the make the statement that we rejected out of hand three of the provincial proposals and refused to discuss them further. That is simply not so. We said that there were three that we could not accept immediately and that those were being discussed by the deputy ministers only last Wednesday.

[Kyoto Protocol, December 9th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member talked about the desire of the provinces to have the financial burden shared equally between provinces and the federal government. That in fact was not the request. It was in fact for the measures taken at the provincial level to be fully funded by the federal government. I am sure that he would be the first to understand how such a situation of one level of government not being responsible for raising the money, but nevertheless being responsible for spending, does lead to the very type of cost overruns that are most regrettable and we should try to avoid.

He also talked about the cancellation of meetings. Yes, it is true that one meeting of ministers, the energy and environment ministers, was delayed one week from October 21 to October 28, and subsequently a meeting of deputy ministers was delayed 10 days. However it did take place last Wednesday. Therefore it is pretty clear that we have had two meetings that were delayed relatively short periods of time and this is far from a collapse of federal-provincial relations.

[Kyoto Protocol, December 9th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the steps we have taken have been to work closely with the provinces and territories since not only Kyoto but also going back to the Rio agreement when Canada not only signed on to the Rio agreement but ratified it, ratified an undertaking not to allow human induced impact on climate to reach dangerous levels. Canada ratified that 10 years ago and since that time we have had continuous discussions with the provinces, the territories, a number of private sector groups and we have had a number of debates in the House, including the debate we had most recently on the ratification of Kyoto, which went on for over eight days in the House and involved some 33 hours of discussion time. There has been, clearly, very extensive consultations.

[Kyoto Protocol, December 6th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I am absolutely astonished that an Ontario member would get up in the House and reject the concept of reducing acid rain, which has had such a dramatic impact on the streams and lakes of Ontario.

I would further suggest that it is extraordinary that she would get up here and talk about the program to reduce acid rain and SO

2

, and fail to point out that, when we finally came to do it, it cost industry in Ontario one-fifth of the amount that it had calculated at the beginning.

Ingenuity takes over and people reduce costs when they are required to do it. That is why ratification of Kyoto is so important next week.

[Kyoto Protocol, December 6th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the problem that the opposition has is denying that there is a plan, denying that there is this document in existence, and therefore it cannot get around to reading what is in it.

However, if the hon. member would like to, this weekend, off the record, perhaps behind closed doors, sneak out a copy and look to page 31 he will get the figures that he is asking for. It is all in the book. All he has to do is recognize the book exists and read it.

[Kyoto Protocol, December 6th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, we have done extensive research on the major sectors of the Canadian economy.

The issue for the hon. member who comes from Alberta is why he is not recognizing the importance of dealing with a long term problem which will literally eliminate the type of agriculture we now have on the areas of the prairies dependent upon the eastern slope of the Rockies for the flow of water, particularly the flows in the summer times.

It is really incredible that this party has not understood the impact that climate change could have on prairie agriculture.

[Kyoto Protocol, December 6th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the first correction needed is in the first words of the hon. member's preamble to his question.

The fact is if we do not act on climate change agriculture in Canada will be dramatically and negatively impacted. We will see large areas, particularly areas that depend upon the eastern slope of the Rockies for their water supplies, literally disappearing as agricultural sectors for the Canadian economy.

That is why it is so important for the agricultural community, and in particular the agricultural community in Alberta, to understand that we must have measures to reduce the impact of climate change on the agricultural industry.

[Rimouski Weather and Environmental Services Office, December 5th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, renewable energy such as wind energy is, of course, very important. This does not mean that each and every Environment Canada office throughout the country must remain totally unchanged. There must be some flexibility, so as to use resources where they can do the most good.

[Rimouski Weather and Environmental Services Office, December 5th, 2002]

Yes, Mr. Speaker, we wish to ensure public safety with the best possible system. This does not mean, however, that changes will not be made from time to time.

I can reassure the hon. member in this connection, however. I have made no decision at this time concerning the closing down of any offices in Canada.

[Kyoto Protocol, December 5th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is incorrect.

The cost estimates with respect to the impact on the economy and the various provinces of Canada have been done. These have been made public and commented on by provincial premiers and others, as well as the private sector. This is the process whereby we attempt to wholly refine the estimates that have been made.

They clearly have been made and very careful work has been done. I can assure him that no country in the world has done more in an effort to anticipate future costs.