Bryon Wilfert

[Hydroelectricity, April 18th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, we are not at the stage where we are signing any agreements. The fact is the minister is being proactive. The Minister of the Environment has made it very clear that he will work with his provincial counterparts.

The sad part is when they claim the minister does not work with his provincial counterparts, they complain. When he does work with his provincial counterparts, they complain. I wish they would get their act together and decide on which side of the issue they are.

[Hydroelectricity, April 18th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of the Environment has made it very clear that we would like to work with the provinces of Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba with regard to a transmission line. It is good for Canadians, it is good for Quebec, it is good for Ontario and it is good for Manitoba.

Clearly we want to make sure that this valuable source of energy is useful for everyone. The member is suggesting that we would do a disadvantage to Hydro-Québec. I suggest the member should look in the mirror and look at what disadvantage he is doing to Quebec for not supporting the climate change plan.

[The Environment, April 18th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, as the minister and I have said on numerous occasions, this is a balanced approach to climate change. The fact is consultations have gone on in Quebec, Alberta and across the country. I realize the hon. member is unhappy with the public reaction to the plan. I realize he is unhappy with the fact that we have had support from the German environment minister, the Sierra Club and others for this particular plan.

It sounds as if the member is spending too much time with that party, which is not sure whether it is for or against Kyoto. In fact, it is like nailing Jell-O to the wall.

[The Environment, April 18th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, first of all, I would not admit that. In fact, negotiations are continuing.

I notice that the hon. member attacks the government over the climate change plan. Unfortunately, his party has decided not to support it even though it is the one suggesting that we should make a deal with Quebec, which we intend to do, and with other provinces. I suggest the most constructive thing the member could do is to support the government and the budget, which has the fiscal instruments to move forward on climate change.

[Interparliamentary Delegations, April 15th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1) I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the report of the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum on the 13th annual meeting held in Halong Bay, Vietnam from January 10 to 13, 2005.

[The Environment, April 15th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, in this federation we all work collaboratively together. The minister is working with his counterpart in Quebec, I know very effectively. In fact, the minister in Quebec has more faith in what is going on than the Bloc, but I would expect that. What I do not expect is that the party across the way, which is supposedly concerned about climate change, continues to shoot hot air rather than talk about the real facts on this subject.

[The Environment, April 15th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, Quebec is not a victim. Quebec is a partner in terms of the plan. It is because of the good work in Quebec and in the other provinces and the partnership fund. It is in our work with Quebec, Ontario and the other provinces that we will be able to advance this plan. Fortunately, the Minister of the Environment has more confidence in the people of Quebec than the hon. member.

[The Environment, April 15th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, I would have expected that kind of comment from those across the way who do not even believe the ice age occurred. However, for the leader of the NDP to suggest for one moment that this plan does not deal with the health of Canadians and does not deal with the greening of Canada is a disgrace.

That member knows the trading credit system in Europe is a closed system. He knows that we have confidence in Canadians to expand and develop green technologies. We are going to do that. We are going to prove all those members on that side wrong.

[The Environment, April 15th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, first of all, this government has delivered on a balanced plan for the environment. In fact, this government is being praised not only in Canada by organizations such as the Sierra Club, but let me point out to the hon. member that the German environment minister said he was pleased that Canada is advancing climate protection with an ambitious plan of action, that the host country of the next world conference on climate hereby sends a strong and progressive signal to the world, and that Canada offers evidence of climate protection.

I would rather rely on the German minister of the environment than on the leader of the NDP.

[Budget Implementation Act, 2005, April 12th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, I know the member is new. I have great respect for the member. I know he probably just forgot that the government led a national campaign in terms of the issue of homelessness and invested over $640 million in conjunction with the provinces and municipal governments and NGOs.

Maybe the member forgot that 800,000 people, of which about 400,000 are seniors, came off the tax rolls because of this budget.

Maybe the member forgot that in fact the issue of rising tuitions is a provincial issue, not a federal one, but this government has done more to deal with the issue of student debt load.