Stephen Harper

[The Environment, December 6th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I am very surprised at this question from the leader of the Green Party.

Just last week on behalf of the government and the minister from Newfoundland and Labrador, we announced one of the most important green energy initiatives in the history of this country, an initiative supporting the Lower Churchill and related developments that will take 4.5 megatons of greenhouse gas emissions out of our system.

Yet the Green Party of Canada stood against it. On this side, we are for helping the environment and making sure there is energy security and prosperity—

[National Defence, December 6th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I think the leader of the Liberal Party has taken an inference in a particular answer that clearly was not there.

The government has said repeatedly that it is following the seven-point plan in terms of responding to the Auditor General's report, and the government intends to respond to all of those things in full time with full due diligence and in a way that conveys full information.

[Public Safety, December 6th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I think I answered that question. I rarely appreciate this question from the Liberal Party leader.

Let me add that what animates this government in all measures of public security is the safety of Canadian communities and our streets. We have taken a number of measures to help victims; obviously, the establishment of a victims ombudsman and victims strategy. We will continue to move forward in ways that make sure victims' perspectives on these matters are always understood.

[Public Safety, December 6th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, once again, I want to emphasize that the positions in this report do not reflect the positions of the government.

I will take the advice of the leader of the Liberal Party under consideration. Obviously, I am very concerned with some of the recommendations made in that report, and I think the committee does need some re-examination in that light.

[Public Safety, December 6th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, that document does not represent the government's position.

In fact, our government has listened to the police in many ways.

For example, we have created a mandatory minimum sentence of five years for all serious crimes committed with firearms; we have eliminated house arrest for such offences; we have suppressed drive-by shootings by creating a new criminal offence; in 2010 we invested in strengthening our borders and suppressing arms dealers; and some weapons are still prohibited, as always.

[Public Safety, December 6th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I will be very clear.

Prohibited weapons exist as a category under the law for essential reasons of public security. Our government has no intention of changing that category.

[Public Safety, December 6th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I am aware of the story. Let me be as clear as I can be. Prohibited weapons exist as a category under the law for essential reasons of public security.

The government has absolutely no intention of weakening that category of protection.

[Aboriginal Affairs, December 5th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I do not understand the question. First, the member said that we do not consult aboriginal peoples, and then he said that the consultations last too long. The reality is that the government is conducting consultations and is making progress.

We have made important investments into education, into safe drinking water, into homes for families, into skills training, into negotiations of claims, reform of the specific claims agreement. In every case, the members of the Liberal Party have voted against these measures. We are very proud that we are making progress.

[Aboriginal Affairs, December 5th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I actually think it is the questions of the leader of the Liberal Party that are nonsensical.

As he indicated in his own preamble, the government and its agencies take very seriously their responsibility under the law to fulfill their duties to aboriginal consultation and our reforms of law ensure those will be done in a comprehensive manner, in a more effective manner, frankly, than it has been done in the past.

[Aboriginal Affairs, December 5th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, the government recognizes that the duty to consult, in many cases, is an absolute legal obligation of the government and the government is prepared to fulfill its legal obligations. The government's legislation in this area, its new comprehensive reforms to environmental and related processes, ensures that the government does just that.