John Baird

[The Environment, November 30th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, some of the allegations the member opposite makes just have no basis in fact. We are working aggressively with international partners. Canada was proud to sign the Copenhagen accord. We are working hard to get a legally binding agreement that would see a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from all the big polluters. That is the only thing that will be an effective response to climate change.

The member opposite talked about winning three of three yesterday. Last night, we were proud to win two of three.

[The Environment, November 30th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, there is no room left after the previous government won all of those awards before we were elected.

Let me say that Canada's negotiating team is in Cancun to participate in very serious discussions, discussions leading towards a legally binding treaty that includes all major emitters.

We do not have time for publicity stunts or for individuals or groups trying to embarrass Canada. We have a lot to be proud of. We are working on regulation of the transport sector and to finally end dirty coal generation.

[Taseko Mines Limited, November 30th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, the cabinet did not approve this project because the environmental assessment, which has been public for some amount of time, said that it would do irreparable harm and damage to the environment. The government stands by that decision. We think we did the right thing.

[Taseko Mines Limited, November 30th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, the member for Bourassa is engaging in high level speculation. If he has any information concerning the allegation that he is making in the House, he should place it before the House so we can have a look at it.

[Taseko Mines Limited, November 30th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, when asked why he was seeking election as a Conservative candidate, Julian Fantino responded that he supported the Prime Minister and the Conservative Party's policies. Then he also said that he could never sit in the same caucus as the member for Ajax—Pickering.

[Taseko Mines Limited, November 30th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, there he goes again. The member for Ajax—Pickering is making reckless and unsubstantiated allegations. He has done this before only to be called before a judge and then forced to come back to this House to apologize for smearing a reputation. There he goes again.

[Taseko Mines Limited, November 30th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, I think if you seek it you would find consent to finish question period, using the full time that is normally allotted, and then to proceed to orders of the day, and conduct the vote at the same time as it would ordinarily be held had the fire alarm not gone off.

[The Environment, November 29th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, we are coming out in January with our guidelines on the establishment of rules that will be recommended to states if they wish to participate.

We support strong harmonization on tough regulations. We have done that on the auto sector. We have done that on light trucks. We are going to move forward in other transportation areas.

When we can move forward with the United States on equivalency with respect to large polluters, not just new polluters but also existing polluters, we believe that is where equivalency will be the best bang for our buck and will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

[Taseko Mines Limited, November 29th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, an environmental assessment was done on this project. The project would have had terrible consequences for the environment and done irreparable harm. That is why the government did the right thing and did not approve the project. We did the right thing for the environment.

If the member has any facts or any basis for the speculation in which he engages, I encourage him to place them before the House.

[Taseko Mines Limited, November 29th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, the member opposite before asking those questions made a number of statements that are absolutely false.

Members of the opposition are free to speculate and make innuendo, but if they have any evidence to suggest anything untoward, they should place it before the House for everyone to see.