Candice Bergen

[Natural Resources, February 3rd, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, last week the Liberals introduced another layer of red tape for energy infrastructure, but what they actually are doing is severely shaking investors' confidence in Canada. In fact, Perrin Beatty, President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce said that good governance does not mean additional hurdles at the last minute, referring to the Liberals' plan. When will the minister stop killing jobs with these delays, with all of this uncertainty?

[Natural Resources, February 1st, 2016]

I will take that as a no, Mr. Speaker.

In addition, the new government is putting its roadblocks in the way of an already rigorous process under the National Energy Board. We have learned it is the minister's office itself that will be creating this new report. Decisions on pipelines will be based on who makes the most noise and who has the most influence in cabinet.

How can Canadians have any faith in this new process when the biggest consideration will be political influence with the Liberals?

[Natural Resources, February 1st, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, here is a quote, “Let me very clear on Energy East...[I am] pro-pipeline...[I am] pro-Energy East...I am going to be an advocate for Saint John, I am going to move forward whatever is best for our riding.” Who said that? It was not the Prime Minister . In fact, it was the Liberal member for Saint John—Rothesay.

If the Liberal government will not support our motion tonight and stand up for jobs and the economy, will it at least allow its members to have a free vote, like the member for New Brunswick to stand up and keep his word to his constituents?

[Business of Supply, January 28th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, on some of the issues the member was talking about, Conservatives want to get to the same destination but just see a different way of doing it.

As I said earlier regarding the motion that has been presented, this is something that the government can support. It can support it and it would send a signal. We have talked a lot about Alberta, but I want to talk a bit about New Brunswick. I want to ask my colleague if he would comment on the impact there. The government is saying that it would, in principle, support energy east. Obviously, it would have to go through all the environmental processes and it would have to be approved, just like any other piece of infrastructure would have to be approved, but if the government could say that, it would send such a strong signal.

For example, in New Brunswick right now there is an 8.9% unemployment rate, which is obviously higher than the national average. The other part of this issue is that currently it is Saudi oil that is going to New Brunswick. Would it not be better to have Canadian oil? Talking about responsible oil and gas development, that is happening in Canada, not Saudi Arabia. If we look at GHGs downstream or upstream, look at how responsibly Canada does it.

The Liberals should be able to indicate their support, or at least be able to have a free vote. If the Prime Minister does not want to support it, that would be his choice, but Liberals should be able to have a free vote.

[Business of Supply, January 28th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, I want to go back to something one of my colleagues talked about, which was the importance of MPs being able to represent their interests on a wide range of issues. I see this motion as one that is truly not partisan; it is something that we could support. Even members of the same party but from different regions of the country could support it, because it really is a motion of general support for our natural resources, particularly gas and oil.

I will read a quote, and then I will say who it is attributed to. It states:

Let me be very clear on Energy East…[I am] pro-pipeline…and pro-Energy East.

I am going to be an advocate for Saint John, I am going to move forward whatever is best for our riding.

That was said by the new Liberal member of Parliament for Saint John—Rothesay. That is a very powerful statement made by that new member of Parliament.

I am wondering if my colleague, who is also a new member of Parliament, can speak to how disappointed that Liberal member's constituents will be when he votes against energy east and against this motion.

[The Environment, January 28th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, still more uncertainty for people whose jobs are in the balance, unfortunately.

Now there is another area of confusion with the announcement yesterday. The government said that additional roadblocks would be in place for Kinder Morgan and energy east. It also said that the minister would look at all other projects under way in the NEB process and determine if those proponents would also need this additional assessment, which would look like more interference.

Could the minister tell us how he will determine which other job-creating programs and projects will have to undergo this red tape?

[The Environment, January 28th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Liberal government said that upstream greenhouse gas emissions would be part of the transition assessment, but the Minister of Environment and Climate Change said that downstream GHGs would also be part of that assessment.

Did the minister misspeak? Could she confirm that downstream emissions will not be considered in the transition process announced yesterday or in the permanent new process that will be announced at a later date?

[Status of Women, January 28th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, today marks an important milestone for Canadians. One hundred years ago, Manitoba women were the first in Canada to be given the right to vote. Nellie McClung and the rest of the Famous Five were instrumental in helping women get the right to vote in Manitoba, and eventually across Canada. Nellie McClung actually lived for a short time in a small community called Manitou right in my riding of Portage—Lisgar. I am very proud to have such a large and important part of history in my riding.

Today more than ever before, women are in prominent leadership roles across the country. We are leaders among the G20 when it comes to female participation in the workforce. We are leading the way when it comes to education levels and standard of living. Being such leaders gives us a great opportunity to help women in other countries who are suffering and do not have the same rights and opportunities we have in Canada.

As Canadian women, it is our responsibility to continue to make strides to inspire the young women who come after us, just like Nellie McClung and the Famous Five did before us.

[Business of Supply, January 28th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my hon. colleague for her comments and congratulate her on, I think, her first speech as parliamentary secretary.

We have heard a number of comments from the Liberal side, and we have asked questions and gotten some answers.

Given that the Liberals have committed to more free votes, to not dictating what their members should do or say or how they should vote, I wonder, first, if the parliamentary secretary would tell me if the government will be supporting this motion, and second, if it will allow a free vote so that the members from the government side who would like to support this motion would be allowed to support it.

Will they be supporting this motion?

[Business of Supply, January 28th, 2016]

No, Madam Speaker, I do not.