Rona Ambrose

[The Environment, May 30th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, it is all clear to Canadians now and particularly to Quebeckers, that the Liberal Party of Canada failed Quebeckers when it came to the environment. The Liberals failed Canadians when it came to their commitment to our international friends in setting targets under Kyoto. They failed in putting forward any implementation plan to actually reach those targets.

We have made the largest investment in Canadian history in public transportation. Quebeckers need that to ensure we can reduce greenhouse gases in Quebec.

[The Environment, May 29th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, when it comes to the environment, the only thing our government will cut is greenhouse gases.

The Liberals failed Canadians when it came to the environment. They failed the provinces when it came to the environment and they definitely failed Quebecers when it came to the environment.

We will work with Quebec in the area with which it needs most help in cutting greenhouse gas emissions. That is in transportation, which is why we have made a huge investment in public transportation in Quebec and that will show real results on reductions in Quebec.

[The Environment, May 29th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, the only government that did not support any action to actually implement Kyoto or get anywhere close to our Kyoto targets was the previous Liberal government.

Our government went to Bonn. We have made it possible for Canada to stay at the table and put forward a practical, flexible alternative that is realistic and will show real results for Canadians and real reductions in greenhouse gases.

[The Environment, May 29th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, let us remember how we got into this mess. The Liberal Party of Canada signed the Kyoto accord and then spent years without a plan for implementation and without any action to actually meet those targets.

In regard to our submissions to the United Nations, they are posted publicly. They were posted before I left for Bonn. They were always on the website. If the member needs some help using the Internet, I would be happy to help him with it.

[The Environment, May 29th, 2006]

Let me just point out, Mr. Speaker, that the hon. member actually might like to read what his party and the former government were going to put in place. They actually did not have a hard cap and targets in the so-called green plan or what they are calling the dream plan. I will call it the pipe-dream plan, and I am really glad the Conservatives were elected so we can make sure that pipe-dream plan goes up in smoke.

[The Environment, May 29th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, the preliminary findings of that report show that the Liberal Party of Canada failed Canada's environment. It failed Canadians and it failed to bring forward any sort of implementation plan that would actually show real reductions in greenhouse gases.

Worse yet, we thought it would cost $5 billion in overseas credits but the preliminary report shows that it could have cost up to $12 billion a year. Most of that money would have been spent overseas.

Our government refuses to spend that money overseas. We will invest it right here at home.

[The Environment, May 19th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, it is unfortunate that the member does not understand what is happening on the international stage. It is exactly because the major players on climate change and global warming are in the Asia-Pacific partnership. It is why Canada would like to participate to ensure we help those countries reduce their emissions.

[The Environment, May 19th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I remind the hon. member that the critic for the environment for the Liberal Party of Canada voted against Kyoto and said things like the job losses from Kyoto ratification would affect all regions of Canada. He went on to say that an agreement was written on the back of an airplane napkin on the way to Kyoto.

Let me go on to relate what Rex Murphy said on the CBC the other day. He stated:

Canada touted its signature on the accord as being in itself a great Boy Scout badge of international and environmental do-good-ism.

We will not pay for our badges; we will earn them.

[Kyoto Protocol, May 19th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member might like to think about what she said in the question, because Japan is actually one of the key players in the Asia-Pacific partnership, a partnership that she just called an impostor. Some of the largest players on climate change are part of the Asia-Pacific partnership. Right now Canada is focused on our own domestic plan, but yes, countries such as Japan, Australia and the United States have asked Canada to consider participating.

[Kyoto Protocol, May 19th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, Canada, like many other countries that are involved in the Kyoto talks, has taken the position that there needs to be an assessment of the Kyoto protocol at this point, particularly in light of the fact that under the Liberals we were 35% above target.

I would like the hon. member to know that just yesterday one of the most well respected scientists in Quebec, Dr. Claude Villeneuve, actually said that the plan the Liberals had was doomed to fail, and all experts knew this, and he looks forward to seeing what our party is bringing forward.