Ralph Goodale

[Greenhouse Gas, May 11th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I am very happy to have this question on the eve of what will be next week National Mining Week in Canada.

The Canadian mining industry is today releasing a document entitled “Global Climate Change—Taking Action”. It recognizes climate change as not just a challenge but also an opportunity. It partners with environmental organizations like the Pembina Institute and Stratos in constructive action. It shows that the Canadian mining industry this year will be more than 4% below its 1990 levels in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, and it promises to do more.

[Grain Transportation, May 11th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I have had the opportunity to discuss in the last short while the principles upon which the government intended to move. Those principles were announced yesterday by the Minister of Transport.

In so far as those principles bear upon the operations of the Canadian Wheat Board, we now have to translate that into a legal document that will be a memorandum of understanding between the board and the government. When those discussions are concluded it will be a public document. In the meantime we will be consulting with the other players to get their input too.

[Division No. 1286, May 8th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have the opportunity to respond to this point.

I commend the member for taking the issue of climate change and the emission of greenhouse gasses as serious. It behoves all of us as members of parliament and as responsible citizens of this country, indeed responsible citizens of the world, to convey the message to our colleagues and fellow citizens that this is a serious issue. It does demand a serious response not just from us in Canada but from the global community. It is a global issue and an issue that cannot be fully resolved without concerted global action.

Canada generates only about 2% of the world's global emissions, but on a per capita basis we rank much higher on the list in terms of global emitters, so we must do our part to deal with the issue.

Beginning with the Kyoto protocol, we have put together a process that has engaged 450 Canadians in more than 16 issue tables to examine every dimension of the greenhouse gas issue vertically by sector and horizontally by the cross-cutting theme to make sure that we had before us at various levels of government a complete menu of well thought out, well researched, factually based policy options from which to choose.

That work is now virtually complete. The ministers of energy and the environment federally, provincially and territorially are meeting throughout this year to select from that menu the policy options that we will pursue in the future. Canadians can be very assured that the Government of Canada is very serious about the issue. We intend to perform to international standards.

[Natural Resources, May 8th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, again, the hon. gentleman is inviting the federal government to intervene in a matter of provincial jurisdiction. It is entirely within the prerogative of a provincial government as the owner of the resource to work out the arrangements with the potential developers of the resource. The Government of Canada cannot intervene in that situation.

[Natural Resources, May 8th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member would know, matters relating to the ownership and management of resources, such as this one, are matters that are entirely within the prerogative of the provincial government. It is up to the province as the owner of the resource to work out the appropriate arrangements with the developers of the resource.

[The Environment, May 5th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada is quite confident that the procedures and practices it follows at the present time, and has followed in the past, are in full compliance with all legal requirements.

As the hon. member knows, there is some outstanding litigation at the present in time and therefore it would be inappropriate to comment further other than to say that from the government's point of view we are confident of our legal position.

[Forestry, May 5th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, next week is indeed Forestry Week across Canada. Activities will be planned right across the country. We are kicking it off this afternoon on Parliament Hill. The Deputy Prime Minister and I will be planting Canada's new millennium tree within the precincts of parliament.

We will also be honouring five young Canadians who are the winners in an essay contest about the future of Canada's forests. They are Marie-Hélene Basque of Rouyn, Quebec; Alison Stacey of Vernon, British Columbia; Iva Veukin of Mississauga, Ontario; Jay Potter of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia; and Krysta Noseworthy of Cornerbrook, Newfoundland. I know all hon. members will want to join me in congratulating them.

[Genetically Modified Organisms, May 5th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, the government is working very hard to ensure that all consumers in Canada have the information which they need.

First of all, we are investing in the science to ensure that it is first class. Second, we are investing in the regulatory system to ensure that Canadians can have confidence in the science. Third, we are engaging in a broad consultation with Canadians to get their input and their advice about how they want their system to be run.

[Genetically Modified Organisms, May 5th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, the government believes that consumer information as it relates to biotechnology and food must be meaningful, credible and enforceable.

The European approach, to which the hon. member has referred on many occasions with apparent approval, is one that has the appearance of effectiveness, but in fact at the root of it the Europeans do not have the capacity to make their system meaningful, credible and enforceable. Therefore their approach is largely a mirage.

[Canada National Parks Act, May 5th, 2000]

moved that Bill C-27, an act respecting the national parks of Canada, be read the second time and referred to a committee.