Jim Prentice

[The Environment, February 23rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, only the Liberal Party could find fault with what transpired in our country last week when the Prime Minister of Canada and the President of the United States struck a historic understanding relative to biofuel research, research relating to the smart grid, research relating to energy efficiency, clean engine research, carbon capture and storage, all the most advanced technologies in the world.

Only one party in our country has delayed progress on climate change, and that is the Liberal Party.

[The Environment, February 23rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member dwells in the past in terms of 1990.

This is a government that is going forward, working on a plan that has been developed with the new administration in the United States. This is a plan that will lead the world in terms of the development of new energy research and clean energy technology. We are working on a dialogue with President Obama and his government that will provide leadership to the world in dealing with this problem, something that has never happened before in our country.

[The Environment, February 23rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, we do not agree with that suggestion. We have a plan to reduce greenhouse gases by 20% by 2020. These targets are more rigorous than the targets proposed by Mr. Obama, the President of the United States.

[The Environment, February 23rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, we disagree. The Bloc Québécois has to put partisanship aside and work with the government.

We are working with the United States on a North American approach based on new technologies and the development of clean energy sources like hydroelectricity, for instance.

[The Environment, February 23rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, that is incorrect. We disagree with the hon. member. Our plan is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020, which is a much more stringent target than that of the U.S.

[The Environment, February 12th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the targets we have spoken of are very clear.

I would say that the hon. member opposite is making fairly extreme statements, both in the House and elsewhere, about this particular matter. He has referred to the ecoTrust funds, for example, including the ones that went to the Government of Ontario, as eco-fraud.

I would ask the member here in the House if he could share with the House any specific accusations of fraud that involve the Government of Ontario or any other provincial government?

[The Environment, February 11th, 2009]

On the contrary, Mr. Speaker, I have always promoted greener energy and I have stood up for improved conservation. However, the most important thing to consider in our fight against greenhouse gas emissions is the fact that we will be working with President Obama, which is something the Bloc Québécois will never be able to do.

[The Environment, February 11th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, that is not true. To my knowledge, nobody has asked President Obama for special treatment or any exceptions for the Alberta oil sands. That is not the case.

The new president, I think it is fair to say, is very focused on the technological innovations that are needed for renewables and clean coal. Similarly, we are very focused on the technological innovations for renewables and clean oil. Our responsibility is to be a clean energy superpower.

[The Environment, February 10th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, let me compliment my friend on his reasoned language and on his chairmanship of the environment committee of the House.

The NDP bill would have Canada diverge dramatically from the common targets that our government has put forward and that President Obama has put forward. The NDP would lead us down a path toward isolation that would exacerbate the economic downturn.

The NDP clearly does not get it. Everyone agrees that we need climate change policies that are measured to work together in partnership with other members of the international community.

For our part, we will continue to work with the new U.S. administration on this task. I encourage opposition parties to do the same.

[The Environment, February 9th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I can assure the hon. member that the government is and remains committed to protecting and enhancing the environment through public projects. We will clean up the assessment process and eliminate unnecessary duplication.

I would ask the hon. member to consider the thoughts of the premier of Manitoba who seems to agree. He said:

One project--one approval, not one project, three or four approval processes through two levels of government.... Perhaps we could spend our time and money a little more effectively.

There seems to be all-party agreement in Canada, just not in the House of Commons.