Catherine McKenna

[The Environment, September 19th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, unlike the party opposite, we understand that the environment and the economy go together.

Since I was elected, I have spent time criss-crossing the country, meeting with all provinces, all territories, meeting with labour leaders, meeting with indigenous leaders, meeting with Canadians, and meeting with business.

Canadians expect us to act on climate change, because we are the first generation to feel the impact, and we are the only generation that can actually change things.

We are going to move forward with our plan, because we understand that it is the right thing to do to tackle climate change and grow our economy.

[The Environment, September 19th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, the member opposite might not understand that B.C. has a carbon tax, and it is revenue neutral, so B.C. actually returns the revenues to its citizens.

The energy companies are actually with us. Let me quote from Suncor CEO Steve Williams:

We think climate change is happening. We think a broad-based carbon price is the right answer.

CEO of Dutch Shell, Total, and four other major energy companies:

We firmly believe that carbon pricing will discourage high carbon options.... We now need governments around the world to provide us with this framework....

[The Environment, September 19th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, we understand that the environment and the economy go together. Right now, 80% of Canadians live in a jurisdiction where there is a price on carbon: B.C. and Alberta have a carbon tax; Ontario and Quebec have a cap and trade system.

We understand that carbon pricing is the most efficient way to reduce emissions and to foster innovation.

I am very proud that 25 Canadian companies have joined on to our carbon pricing leadership coalition calling for a price on carbon, because they know it is the way forward to innovate and to grow our economy.

[The Environment, September 19th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, we are ready to take action on climate change. I spent the summer talking with my counterparts all across the country.

However, let us be clear, the Harper targets were fake targets. When one puts out targets and does not have a plan to meet them and emissions go up—and we have been very transparent about how the emissions have gone up—it is hard to meet them.

What Canadians expect is real action, and we are going to deliver real action with the provinces and territories, with indigenous leaders, with business, with youth, with all Canadians, because that is what we are committed to doing.

[The Environment, June 14th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, I had the pleasure to go to Saskatchewan, where I met with my counterpart, the environment minister there. We had a great discussion about how we could reduce emissions and we could tackle climate change working together. I went and visited carbon capture and storage, where they are looking at new technologies. I talked to the agricultural sector about how it could reduce emissions.

It seems that the only party that does not understand the need to reduce emissions is the party opposite.

[The Environment, June 14th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, we understand that the middle class is working hard. We also understand that we need to take action on climate change. We know that the lowest-cost way of reducing emissions and tackling carbon pollution is by putting a price on it.

However, once again, let me go to Preston Manning. “Conservatives profess to believe in markets. So why don’t conservatives major on how to harness markets to the environmental conversation, and make that their signature contribution.”

Mark Cameron, former policy advisor to former prime minister Stephen Harper, said, “As most free-market economists...”—

[The Environment, June 14th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, I am quite happy to continue repeating all of the people who support a price on carbon. Maybe we should go to industry. We have Pierre Gratton, who is the president and CEO of the Mining Association of Canada. Speaking on behalf of one of Canada's largest industries, he stated that they support carbon pricing and that it represents “...the most effective and efficient means of driving emissions reductions and making real progress in the global fight against climate change”.

Maybe it is time for the Conservatives to get with the program and do what everyone else is calling for, which is to take climate change seriously and put a price on emissions.

[The Environment, June 14th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians know that we must reduce our greenhouse gas emissions in order to grow our economy in a sustainable manner.

Let me point to another Conservative leader, the Ontario Conservative leader and former MP, Patrick Brown. He said, “Climate change is a fact. It is a threat. It is man-made. We have to do something about it, and that something includes putting a price on carbon”.

He may also want to listen to his colleagues. The member for Wellington—Halton Hills, in launching his Conservative leadership bid, said on the issue of climate change, “...I think it's clear that carbon pricing has arrived in Canada”.

[The Environment, June 14th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, unlike the opposition members, we know that the environment and the economy go hand in hand.

I am very surprised to hear the opposition party, the Conservative Party, not recognizing the role that markets play when it comes to reducing emissions. Conservatives should stand with the Conservative Premier of Manitoba, who said in the speech from the throne that the new Conservative government “...will include carbon pricing that fosters emissions reduction, retains investment capital, and stimulates new innovation in clean energy, businesses, and jobs”.

That is the right thing to do. It is the efficient thing to do.

[The Environment, June 10th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, the chemicals management plan is Canada's comprehensive and integrated strategy for identifying and taking action on potentially harmful substances. I was very pleased to announce with my colleague, the Minister of Health, $491.8 million over the next five years to continue delivering on Canada's world-leading chemicals management plan. These funds will be used to complete the next phase of this essential program, which helps reduce the risk posed by chemicals to Canadians and the environment. We owe it to future generations.