Rona Ambrose

[The Environment, October 16th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I would just ask the hon. member to wait for our plan to be released. This government obviously will be treating all sectors equally. We have assured that to industry sectors and Canadians across this country. I would ask him to work with us because the environment is an issue that matters to all Canadians and matters to every party in this House. We have for the first time an opportunity in this chamber to debate and discuss a piece of legislation of this calibre. I would ask him to wait for the legislation and support it.

[The Environment, October 4th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I am very familiar with the voluntary memorandum of understanding with the auto sector. That was a step in the right direction. As I said, members of the auto sector understand that Canadians want cleaner air and that they will be a big part of our environmental agenda. We look forward to working with them.

[The Environment, October 4th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, we recognize the importance of the auto sector to the Canadian economy, but we also recognize that this is a sector that needs to make large contributions to our environmental agenda.

We had a very positive meeting with members of the auto sector last night. They understand why clean air matters to them. My concern is with Buzz Hargrove and the Liberal premier of Ontario. I am sure they do want cleaner air, but if the Liberals do not want it, the Conservatives will deliver it.

[The Environment, October 3rd, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, let us talk about action on the environment instead of rhetoric, because that is what Canadians want to see.

While the NDP was sending out press releases, it took only a few short months for our government to become the first country in the world to ban the use of PFCAs, a toxic chemical that causes cancer in Canadians. What did we get for that? Our action led to an endorsement by the Canadian Cancer Society, which said “we welcome this action”.

This is the kind of action that Canadians want on the environment file and this is the kind of action that our government will continue to deliver.

[The Environment, October 3rd, 2006]

In fact, Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Industry, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Transport and I are meeting with the auto manufacturers this evening to discuss our environment policy.

[Quebec, October 3rd, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, that is not true. Once again, I am sorry that my comments were misinterpreted.

I know Quebeckers love their environment. That is why they should be part of our plan, but we do need a national plan for all Quebeckers and Canadians.

[Quebec, October 3rd, 2006]

Again, Mr. Speaker, this is just another distraction to ensure that Quebeckers do not see the record the Liberals actually had on the environment. I look forward to answering many more of these questions because I have enough of this material to keep me going for months.

Last week I told the House about $4.5 million going to Kazakhstan, yesterday I mentioned the $5 million going to the Asian Development Bank and today I am telling members about $2 million going to the State Power Corporation of China, all to buy foreign credits. That was their priority on a Liberal file.

[Minister of the Environment, October 3rd, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I am sorry that my comments were misinterpreted.

I know that Quebeckers care about their environment and that is why they have to be part of our plan. We need a national plan that does not favour one province over another. Again, they have to wait until the plan is unveiled.

[Minister of the Environment, October 3rd, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I know the Liberals would like to distract us from their record. Let us talk about that record on climate change and their priorities.

The Liberals gave $2 million to the State Power Corporation of China to buy foreign credits. Last week I told the House about the $4.5 million the Liberals gave to Kazakhstan. Yesterday I told the House about the $5 million to the Asian Development Bank. Today I am telling the House about the $2 million to the State Power Corporation of China, all to buy foreign credits.

That could have paid for anti-pollution technology and sewage treatment to protect the health of Canadians. That money should stay here at home.

[The Environment, October 2nd, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, what I can assure the member of is that this government will not purchase foreign credits like the last government did.

In yet another example of Liberal priorities, the former Liberal government gave $5 million to the Asian Development Bank to pay to the People's Republic of China to buy foreign credits. Then there was the $4 million I gave an example of last week, in Kazakhstan. This week, there is $5 million to the People's Republic of China. All to buy foreign credits.

That money could have gone to buy sewage treatment plants in Canada. It could have gone to pay for anti-pollution technology. That money should be invested at home.