David Anderson

[Kyoto Protocol, April 22nd, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the situation with the European Union is far different from ours in Canada.

We know, for example, that the United States withdrew from the Kyoto protocol a year ago. We had access to the details of their plan only this past February.

The Europeans do not have the same trade links as we in Canada do with the U.S. The Canadian and European situations are totally different.

[Kyoto Protocol, April 22nd, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, we have held a number of consultations with the provinces on this matter of territorial vs sectoral approach.

Since September, I have held three meetings with the provincial and territorial ministers of energy and the environment. Another is scheduled for next month.

We have often discussed the best approach to achieving the goal we are pursuing with the Kyoto protocol. I am awaiting information from the provinces and territories. There is nothing very complicated about this.

[Kyoto Protocol, April 22nd, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member should tell that to the Albertans who I have met over the last few weeks and the last few days.

The fact is we have consultations with a large number of people. This is a matter that affects the whole country, not just a particular region or not just a particular sector. I simply want to have the best consultations we can so that we come up with a genuine Canadian consensus as to what we should do and how we should proceed.

[Kyoto Protocol, April 22nd, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the system is wide open. Anyone can come forward with proposals on how these discussions could take place and how these consultations should proceed. I am not responsible, as a minister of the crown, for the website of the Sierra Club of Canada.

[Kyoto Protocol, April 22nd, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is right. There has been an increase in greenhouse gas emissions since 1997. However, he should also know that the first period under the Kyoto protocol only begins in 2008. We have a few years to put in place the plan to which the Prime Minister referred a few minutes ago.

[Kyoto Protocol, April 22nd, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I can assure the hon. member that the federal government's position is clear and that it is supported by all the ministers of the Government of Canada.

We will have consultations with the provinces, the territories, the industries that are affected and the general public. Following that, we will have a plan to ensure that no region of the country has to support an undue burden. We will then be in a position to make a decision on ratification of the protocol.

[Kyoto Protocol, April 19th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, this is not something new. The Prime Minister even indicated in 1997 that clean energy exports was a very important issue. The position of the Canadian government has not changed since.

This issue has become very important following the changes to the American position, compared to last year and to seven years ago, which were announced in the Bush plan, on February 14 of this year. It will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As far as we are concerned, such is the purpose of the Kyoto protocol. This is why we are expecting a shift in the policy of the European Union.

[Kyoto Protocol, April 19th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I realize that this is a very important issue. I will repeat what the Prime Minister told the House this week: our goal is to ratify the Kyoto protocol and we are going to dedicate ourselves to that end. But at the same time, before making a decision we must have discussions and consultations with the provinces and territories, the industry and the public, that is Canadians from all parts of the country.

We must also have a good plan. We are just waiting to hear from the joint federal-provincial-territorial committee before going ahead with these discussions.

[Fisheries, April 19th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. Minister of Fisheries and Oceans has answered the question with respect to Canso on a number of occasions in the House. I will report to him the request of the hon. member who asked the question about further meetings but I believe he has in fact reported directly to the town of Canso himself. I can get that information for the hon. member perhaps by the end of the day.

[The Environment, April 19th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for that extremely important question. It is true that from fishing activity, as well as commercial vessels referred to by the hon. member for Red Deer a short time ago, there is an enormous risk to our bird and marine populations on the coasts of eastern and western Canada.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans in combination with the Department of Transport and my own department will be taking every step we can to recover the maximum amount of fuel.

However I must warn all hon. members that recovery of spilled fuel at sea is an extremely difficult process easily hampered by wind and waves. The result is that we cannot--