House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2015, with 46% of the vote.
Points of Order December 14th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, on the same point of order, it was about two months ago in Nagoya the member did not participate actively.
In the biodiversity conference in Cancun, he was not actively participating as we heard that the other opposition members were.
Wasting the taxpayer's dollars is very serious. Would he repay the Canadian taxpayer for not participating?
The Environment December 10th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, the member knows well that this government takes the environment seriously. We show up for conferences, and we stay and work hard.
This is what the commissioner of the environment said about the Liberal Party and the gap between what the Liberal government said it would do and what it actually did. He said:
When it comes to protecting the environment, bold announcements are made and then often forgotten as soon as the confetti hits the ground.
The Liberals owe the House an apology for what they did.
The Environment December 10th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, I thank the commissioner for his report.
We are committed to addressing environmental issues that are of concern to all Canadians. The fact is we are already taking action on preventing and preparing for environmental emergencies, strengthening our water monitoring systems and investing in climate change adaptation.
The government has accepted the commissioner's recommendations and actions are already under way.
The Environment December 10th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, that is already happening. Environment Canada, through partnership and funding, has worked with the Ouranos consortium to assess the bank erosion problem on the lower St. Lawrence River. The work is in progress on the erosion problem and it includes the whole lower St. Lawrence River.
In terms of the commissioner's report, we agree with the recommendations and are developing a national adaptation strategy.
The Environment December 10th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, to truly address the issue of climate change, we need to have all the major emitters as part of the solution and that is this government's position. Unfortunately, the Liberals do not take the environment very seriously and they laugh about it.
A couple of months ago, taxpayers paid for those members to go to the Nagoya biodiversity conference. They did not even show up. Now in Cancun, the Liberal critic on the environment left two days early. Is his suntan done and now he is leaving and going back? Shame on the Liberals.
The Environment December 10th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, the member well knows that what he is proposing would only deal with 27% of the total greenhouse gas emissions. This government is focusing on 85% of total greenhouse gas emissions through the Copenhagen accord.
Canada will continue to work with the nations on the five pillars of the accord: financing, mitigation, adaptation, technology, as well as measuring and verification.
The Environment December 10th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member knows the government is committed to ensuring the oil sands are developed in the most environmentally responsible way. That is why we struck a federal panel of Canada's leading scientists on water monitoring, headed by Elizabeth Dowdeswell. She will be reporting very soon on whether the monitoring systems are adequate.
Our decisions are based on science, not rhetoric.
The Environment December 10th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, Canada's negotiating team is in Cancun to participate in serious discussions that will lead to a legally binding treaty that includes all the major emitters.
Canadians do not like the publicity stunts of individuals or groups who are trying to embarrass Canada. This government is a constructive player in the Cancun negotiations. We stand up for Canada, we stand up for the environment and we stand up for good Canadian jobs.
The Environment December 10th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, our government seeks an outcome that includes commitments from all the major emitters and reflects the balance achieved by the Copenhagen accord. The Copenhagen accord has the support of 139 signatory countries, and covers not just 27% of greenhouse gas emissions, as reported by the Bloc, but 85% of total greenhouse gas emissions. When it comes to fighting climate change it is this government that is taking action.
The Environment December 10th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, our provinces and territories have demonstrated real leadership and will contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and we thank them for that. Quebec, for example, has done its part. In green energy we can be proud of what we have accomplished as a country. There is still a lot of work to be done, but together we will do the right thing for Canada, for the environment and for all Canadians to share in this great, great land.