Environment committee  Canada needs to step up to the plate, be responsible, and work with its indigenous people, who know the land better than anyone else. We're the most vulnerable people. We are the face of climate change. We are the face of global warming up here. If they're going to wait, then certainly they're going to be waiting a long time.

Environment committee  In fact, until the end of last week, I held the national portfolio for environment for the Assembly of First Nations. So I was very aware of the issues related to climate change, global warming, and the concerns people have around those issues. For our people in the north, it's a reality. It's real. Today, for example, it's maybe minus 10 degrees, at the most, in Yellowknife.

Environment committee  I'm asking whether you have seen a plan from the Conservative government in terms of a climate change plan for Canada. Do you have one? Have you been given a copy of a plan? Have they asked you to comment on their plan? Do you have anything in your possession that they have produced?

Environment committee  We have a very big concern in this area. Specifically on climate change, we would like to hear from the government and people from the south. We would like to be consulted on issues that say, for example, the polar bear population has gone down. We hear that from the south, but in our case, up here in the Arctic, that's not true.

Environment committee  Absolutely. I would cite, for example, the International Panel on Climate Change. A number of our scientists in the department bring to bear the expertise and resources they have in being part of the International Panel on Climate Change. We co-chair one of the working groups; Dr.

Environment committee  I would say, firstly, from the figures I've seen in the Obama budget, that the climate change revenue--as I recall, that's their term in the bill, “climate change revenue”, so you'll have to discuss with them whether they consider it a tax or not--is estimated in the year 2012 to be $78.7 billion.

Environment committee  Canada fully intents to once again play a lead role in moving the world towards action.[...]” in regard to the fight against climate change. I am little surprised to hear you tell the committee that Canada played a lead role in international circles when no later than the day before yesterday, the European Union criticized your position and said that you have failed to show leadership.

Environment committee  Minister. Do not tell me that this is Canada's position at an international conference on climate change. On the site of the European Union Commission, there is a 127-page document that presents that position. It is accessible to the public. What you are doing this morning is nothing less than implementing a policy of secrecy regarding international negotiations.

Environment committee  Is Turning the Corner still Canada's climate change plan?

Environment committee  What I'm telling you is that this is a critical year in terms of climate change and that we are proceeding domestically, continentally, and internationally. We will calibrate our efforts to be part of the international efforts to deal with climate change consistent with what is agreed through the UN process and the major emitters process, which the new U.S. administration has begun.

Environment committee  Chair, and in fact they were repeated by the Prime Minister for ten years before he discovered that the science of climate change is rather frightening. Mr. McCabe and Mr. Lazar, now that we have opened the door on Copenhagen, let me ask you again a couple of pointed questions. What is Canada saying right now about the use of international credits in Copenhagen and in the international round?

Environment committee  Do we want to be taxed? No. Do we want to be capped? No. Do we want everyone to do something about climate change? Yes. Then, when you come to the actual details of it, a little switch here or there changes everything so much. People say cap and trade. Okay, but if the base year is 2010, we're not happy.

Environment committee  They went looking for them; the private sector responded. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has said in its last studies that if the U.S. price of a carbon dioxide emission were $20 per tonne, agriculture and forestry could put up a total mitigation potential of 21%. If that were to jump to $100 per tonne, which I personally think is quite excessive, you'd be looking at 45%.

Environment committee  In that example, we aren't going to be losing jobs to the U.S., and where it is a harmonized approach, tackling climate change has a North American target.

Environment committee  I'm curious to hear your answer to this. Simply put, deforestation contributes negatively to climate change and it increases greenhouse gas emissions. Your processes are very environmentally friendly and sustainable. How do you extend that to the issue of deforestation? What sorts of environmentally sustainable reforestation practices do you have?