Megan Leslie

[The Environment, September 26th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, this is a little different, because we are talking about divestment now. About 1,300 major investment groups met in Montreal to draft the Montreal climate pledge. They agreed to disclose their companies' carbon footprint and increasingly shift investment away from fossil fuels.

Business worldwide can see the writing on the wall. Even World Bank president Jim Yong Kim is urging investors to divest from fossil fuels. However, the Conservative government is ignoring these major investors and therefore risking our economy.

Has the minister even considered the impact of divestment on Canada's economy?

[The Environment, September 26th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, while the Prime Minister skips out on the UN Climate Summit in New York, major financial institutions met in Montreal to make commitments about the carbon footprint of their investment portfolios. The Montreal carbon pledge is proof that it is possible to protect the economy and the environment.

Why are the Conservatives refusing to take action when even the big banks are doing their part?

[Privilege, September 25th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I do not know if I am allowed, but I would like to raise a new point regarding this question of privilege. I wonder whether the Chair could rule on what is going on in this building.

I want to tell the House about something I experienced today. I was denied access to a hallway because a red carpet had been put down for a big event. It was not a big deal, but I was forced to go through the basement to get to the vote. It was not a big deal because I got here on time for the vote.

Nevertheless, I would like the Chair to rule on security issues in this building. I do not think this was a matter of security, since the carpet was for a photo op.

It had the potential to hold me up before I got here. That is as far as I could go.

This is a comment. Not exactly a question.

Perhaps my colleague has something to add to that.

[The Environment, September 24th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, leadership means being out in front, not following the U.S. because we do not have a choice. Nothing that has been re-announced this week will get Canada any closer to meeting our emissions goals. In fact, we are going to miss it by 100 million tonnes or more. That is not leadership, and nobody is fooled.

Instead of bragging about what little the government has done, could the minister explain to us how it plans to meet its climate change goals?

[The Environment, September 24th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, any credit given to the electricity sector is thanks to the provinces. The federal government is not getting the job done, and we are playing catch-up to the U.S.

This so-called sector-by-sector approach ignores the single most polluting sector. The oil and gas sector makes up 25% of all emissions in Canada, and its emissions are predicted to triple. What we get are re-announced vehicle regulations that will not even come into force until 2017.

Once again, when will the government introduce its oil and gas regulations?

[The Environment, September 24th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the fight against climate change is a significant challenge for Canada, but it is also an amazing opportunity for many industries that are involved in developing clean technologies. Canada is going to be left out of decisions that are made and partnerships that are formed in New York.

Why are the Conservatives depriving our companies of these economic opportunities?

[The Environment, September 24th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, while the international community is doing its part to restart negotiations on fighting climate change, the Minister of the Environment is giving speeches to an empty room. No one is interested in what the Conservatives have to say about the environment, because it is straight out of another century. Waiting to see what others announce is not leadership.

What measures will Canada put forward at the Paris conference in 2015?

[The Environment, September 23rd, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, let us be clear: this is the same government that has essentially given up on oil and gas regulations.

Canada is going to New York empty-handed in the global fight against climate change.

Our allies and our closest trading partner get the urgency, and they are taking real action to reduce emissions and boost clean energy.

What kind of climate impacts do we have to see here at home before the Conservatives get it?

[The Environment, September 23rd, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, he should listen to the speakers of the UN, because the simple fact is this. By failing utterly and completely to come to grips with the climate crisis and make real reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the Conservatives are setting Canada up to fail in the green energy economy of tomorrow.

Report after report, the latest on Monday from Clean Energy Canada, shows that Canada will be left behind in the clean energy revolution if the federal government does not wake up.

Why are the Conservatives asking Canadians to miss out on what could be a $3-trillion market?

[The Environment, September 23rd, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the only thing the Conservatives have done for the environment is to recycle their answers.

While the Conservatives are missing the boat, the entire world is taking action. A coalition of 73 countries and 1,000 companies led by the president of the very radical World Bank is proposing to put a price on carbon.

Where is the Prime Minister? He is absent again.

Why are the Conservatives ignoring the business community, which is calling for action on climate change?