House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2015, with 33% of the vote.
Rail Transportation October 25th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, we are conducting the necessary consultations with stakeholders all across the country to ensure that the best possible bill can be tabled.
This is an important issue for our government. We have committed to tabling a bill this fall and we will do so.
Rail Transportation October 25th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to see that my colleague has taken an interest in rail service in Quebec regions.
We have been interested in this matter for a long time. We said that we would introduce something in the fall. Fall has arrived, and we will be introducing something by the end of fall.
The Environment October 25th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, the Navigable Waters Protection Act has always been about navigation, not the environment.
It has been the case since 1882. There is not a word about the environment in the actual act. My colleague is surely referring to some other act. We will continue to focus on navigation and cut red tape.
The Environment October 25th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, the member must surely understand that navigation is navigation, nothing more.
We are making changes to focus on what is important to Transport Canada. Obviously, Environment Canada will continue to do its job, as will Fisheries and Oceans and the provinces and municipalities. Everyone will continue to do their job. We will focus on what is important to us: reducing red tape, which everyone has been asking us to do for years. We will take care of navigation.
The Environment October 24th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, the Navigable Waters Protection Act has always been about navigation, not environment. This has been the case since 1882. There is not a word about the environment in the actual act. My colleague is referring to another act, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, which was amended last spring.
The Environment October 24th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, the Navigable Waters Protection Act has always been about navigation, not the environment. This has been the case since it was introduced in 1882. This is nothing new. There is not a word about the environment in the actual act. My colleague is referring to another act, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, which was amended last spring. She need only reread that amended legislation.
Government Accountability October 24th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, the Transport Canada website has always indicated that the Navigable Waters Protection Act is an act respecting the protection of Canadians' right to navigate. I repeat, to “navigate”. That has not changed. The department reviewed its website and removed some erroneous information.
Quebec Bridge October 23rd, 2012
Mr. Speaker, it is interesting to hear my colleague answer his own question.
When a matter is before the courts, we have to wait until the legal process has run its course and rulings have been handed down. Unless the member does not have faith in the courts, that is. We do, and we will let the process run its course.
The Environment October 23rd, 2012
Mr. Speaker, changing the words “navigable waters” to “navigation” does not change the essence of this act. That is about navigation, and that is what we will continue to do.
The member asks frequent questions about the environment, and the Minister of the Environment will continue to answer those. We will continue to answer her about navigation.
The Environment October 23rd, 2012
Mr. Speaker, changing the term “navigable waters” to “navigation” does not change the spirit of this law. That said, Transport Canada will continue to deal with transportation and the people at Environment Canada will deal with the environment. We are only making clarifications that should have been made a long time ago. Matters that we believe should not be handled by Transport Canada will continue to be reviewed by Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and all other departments. Nothing has changed.