House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2000, with 54% of the vote.
Health November 27th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, we have not received the report yet so I cannot make specific comments on that. However, there is one thing. Our neighbours to the south are spending 14.5% of their GDP on health care. Within the Canadian system, which is a better system than theirs, we are spending 9.4% of GDP.
Health November 27th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, we will have the pleasure to say to the Leader of the Opposition at the time of the budget how much money we can allocate for health care. However, for the past for nine years the opposition has wondered what we were going to do. We have been the first government ever to have five surplus budgets in five years, and it will be the sixth this year.
Ethics Counsellor November 26th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, the document was tabled as soon as I received it. It is very surprising that the hon. member now says that there was no need for a report when he was asking for one.
Ethics Counsellor November 26th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, there was no requirement for the tabling of any document at all. I asked the ethics counsellor to prepare a report for this fall. We expected that to be tabled in September but it was a few weeks later. However it was the first time he was asked and he delivered on the requirement of the government.
The Environment November 26th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, we have the authority.
The Environment November 26th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, this highly complex file involves the interests of the provincial governments and those of various industries in each of the provinces. We are in contact with the various industrial sectors and the provinces.
This treaty will come into effect in the year 2012. We plan to conclude agreements with anyone required to ensure that by 2012, the objectives of the treaty are respected by all of Canada.
The environment November 26th, 2002
I cannot make it any clearer. Whether or not it is in the resolution, when the Prime Minister has been saying in the House of Commons for weeks, and when it is in the Speech from the Throne, that we are going to ratify the Kyoto protocol before the end of the year 2-0-0-2, I trust that the hon. member can understand that the government is speaking fairly clearly.
The environment November 26th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, all they have to do is move an amendment—
The environment November 26th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, this is a motion that was drafted in advance. He ought to listen to the Prime Minister when the Prime Minister speaks. I cannot give a clearer explanation. The vote will be held, if the opposition lets us hold one, within the next few days. Anyway, the government can act on its own, and ratification will take place before December 31 of the year 2-0-0-2.
The environment November 26th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, in the Speech from the Throne, which was adopted by the House of Commons, we clearly said that we would ratify the Kyoto protocol this year, before the end of 2002. I have repeated this in the House dozens of times and I am repeating it again now. What more does the member want? It will be done. We will vote on it in the coming days, before the end of the year, once the debate is finished, if they allow a debate. If not, we will ratify it. The debate is a courtesy. The government can act without a debate in the House of Commons.