House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2015, with 43% of the vote.
BUSINESS OF SUPPLY May 21st, 2013
Mr. Chair, this is actually a new question. Now we are talking about the outcomes.
The training program for people other than me is designed to help them communicate with the public. Part of that will be training for scientists and staff, not for me. We want our scientists to communicate with the public and to do so in a way that is accessible to the public.
BUSINESS OF SUPPLY May 21st, 2013
Mr. Chair, if the member opposite does not want to listen to the answer, at the very least he should listen to his own questions. He was asking the question, as I understood it, about myself as minister, and I gave him that answer.
All the details regarding the advertisements will be published by the government in the annual report on government advertising activities.
BUSINESS OF SUPPLY May 21st, 2013
Mr. Chair, no money has been allocated. I have not taken any of the training and I do not intend to.
BUSINESS OF SUPPLY May 21st, 2013
Mr. Chair, the point I made before seems to be difficult for the member opposite to understand. This campaign will raise awareness of Canada's environmental record and U.S.-Canada shared energy interests. It will challenge and correct misinformation.
BUSINESS OF SUPPLY May 21st, 2013
Mr. Chair, these numbers, of course, are in the main estimates of 2012-13, and as the member opposite fully knows, it is $9 million.
The issue here, as I mentioned a moment ago, is that this is a critical moment in the development of our natural resources because we are awaiting a decision from the U.S. administration in respect to the Keystone XL pipeline.
BUSINESS OF SUPPLY May 21st, 2013
Mr. Chair, this is a critical moment in the development of our natural resources, and therefore we have allocated a significant amount of money for advertising. Under vote 1, the main estimates for this year, the number is $16.5 million.
It is common practice for governments to use advertising and public information to communicate with Canadians. Providing Canadians with the facts helps them to make informed decisions. This is a fact-based ad.
BUSINESS OF SUPPLY May 21st, 2013
Mr. Chair, I am very pleased to point out that we are the first government in Canadian history to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. Canada is now halfway towards our goal of reducing emissions by 17% by 2020.
While our economy grew over the last six years, our emissions have decreased. Expanded protection of parks in Canada has been increased by 50%. We have created the world's largest freshwater protected area, Lake Superior. We have expanded Canada's green conservation area by over 10 times. We have increased pipeline inspections and audits. New fines have been imposed for companies that break environmental laws. We have strengthened—
The Environment April 23rd, 2013
Mr. Speaker, we have said, repeatedly, that we will not go ahead with any project that is not safe for Canadians and safe for the environment. Why is the NDP is opposing a project before it has received final environmental review?
The Environment April 23rd, 2013
Mr. Speaker, it is a scientific fact that the oil sands represent one one-thousandth of global emissions and the Keystone XL pipeline would represent less than half of that.
What the focus should be on is coal, which represents in the United States over 30 times the emissions that the oil sands represent. As we know, Dr. Andrew Weaver said that the total impact on global warming of the oil sands would be 3% of 1° in 300 years.
The Environment April 23rd, 2013
Mr. Speaker, our government respects the U.S. process and we remain hopeful that Keystone XL will be approved on its merits. Canada is the environmental choice to meet the U.S. demand for energy. The approval of Keystone XL would create jobs, economic prosperity and energy security for both our countries. We will continue to pursue opportunities to diversify markets as a strategic priority.
Why is the NDP always looking for ways to oppose this job-creating project?