Stephen Harper

[The Environment, May 16th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, the theatre of the absurd is the Leader of the Opposition talking about Kyoto with the record of his party, a party that committed Canada to international targets which his government had absolutely no intention of even trying to reach, and missed by them 35%.

We have a bright, young, aggressive Minister of the Environment who is going to get on with some real action.

[Canada-U.S. Border, May 15th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I have spoken about this with the premier, Mr. Charest, and with several other premiers, and we are encouraged by their position.

[The Environment, May 15th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, the recent budget of the Minister of Finance made major new investments into public transport and also into incentives for those who use public transport, as well as significant investments into renewable fuels.

This is not an entire plan, but these are important actions. It is unfortunate that the hon. member and his party voted against these things. I wonder whether they take them very seriously.

[The Environment, May 15th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of the Environment is facing the following situation: the former government agreed to targets that it failed to reach by 35%. The minister is now working with the international community to develop an effective international protocol and take real action on a national level. We will continue to act.

[Francophonie, May 15th, 2006]

To repeat, Mr. Speaker, I spoke with Mr. Diouf. I had a very good talk with him. He considers the matter closed. I believe that the opposition parties should follow his example. Mr. Diouf has worked with this government to improve not only our relations, but also the work of La Francophonie, which is the priority of this government when the opposition plays these games.

[Francophonie, May 15th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I had a good conversation with Mr. Diouf. I said, obviously, that the incident was regrettable and I requested a review of the facts and the procedures to prevent a recurrence. However, as I have just said, Mr. Diouf was very satisfied with his visit and especially the work of the Minister responsible for the Francophonie.

[Francophonie, May 15th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, once again the Leader of the Opposition is mistaken. I have spoken with Mr. Diouf and had a good conversation with him. He told me that despite the regrettable incident, he had had a good visit and good meetings in Canada. He expressed his admiration for Canada, for the government and in particular for the Minister of the Francophonie, who chaired the meetings in Winnipeg.

[The Environment, May 15th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition is completely wrong in all of the facts and everything that was just in that question and in its preamble.

In the government's most recent budget, we provided new investments for public transportation and incentives to riders to take that transportation. We also provided new incentives to encourage the development of renewable fuels, things like ethanol and biodiesel.

What is really the problem here is that the party opposite voted against these sound environmental measures.

[The Environment, May 15th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, the irony is that the party opposite that missed its Kyoto targets by 35% now wants Canada to abandon any role in the international conference. That would be irresponsible.

The Minister of the Environment will bring forth a change in Kyoto, and that is to have a Canada that is actually committed to taking some real action.

[The Environment, May 11th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of the Environment is putting together a real plan to deal with climate change. Let me read for the House a description of the previous government's plan:

Instead the [previous] government's plan in terms of the Kyoto agreement was basically written on the back of an airplane napkin on the way to Kyoto. There was no long term planning. There was no real negotiation with the provinces or with industry sectors. In fact it was a last minute, hastily drafted agreement.

Those are the words of the member for Kings—Hants.