Environment committee  Well, I can tell you that this year, the 2006-07 year, we'll spend more than $3 billion, which is substantially higher than has ever been spent on climate change programs. There were often differences between what was announced and what was actually expended. And those numbers were obviously reflected in estimates, supplementary estimates (A) and (B), and will be reflected in the public accounts and the budget documents, and you'll be able to see for yourself.

Environment committee  This year the Government of Canada will spend about $3.336 billion on climate change and clean air.

Environment committee  Minister, given that you very rarely come before this committee, we had expected that you would be giving us good news with regard to the campaign against climate change. It is however clear that, in this area, you are dragging your feet as much as your predecessor, Ms. Ambrose. She had promised us greenhouse gas emission reductions for large industrial emitters before the end of 2006.

Environment committee  It is not long, but for a new government that made a commitment to dealing with climate change and the environment, it is a lot of time.

Environment committee  Can you offer us a brief list of those countries you feel the initiatives you are about to announce will better when it comes to the fight against climate change? Because you said it.

Environment committee  No, that's on climate change. The entire department's budget can't be confirmed until supplementary estimates (B) is passed, because obviously Parliament hasn't authorized that funding. You're asking me to predict what the House of Commons will do in the coming week or two.

Environment committee  No country tabled plans with respect to climate change. What I did outline was a comprehensive strategy to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce pollutants in our air. What I talked about was a major industrial initiative that would deal with just under 50% of the emissions that we generate in this country from greenhouse gas.

Environment committee  So you didn't table a plan, but yet you said here, and I quote you: “Canada has a plan for climate change, and we want to join international talks on measures that go beyond Kyoto.”

Environment committee  When we say “beyond Kyoto”, I think we mean that at the end of 2012 there won't be an international convention on climate change. Certainly it was strongly Canada's view that we shouldn't wait until 2012 and then begin to have discussions that would lead to negotiations. I think Canada is very engaged with the Gleneagles dialogue that began when the United Kingdom had the presidency of the G8.

Environment committee  But having the minister here, having him accountable for what moneys were and weren't spent in the last fiscal year I think is important, particularly in conjunction with efficacy around climate change, in particular. I don't think there's a need for a long debate about this. I think we can move to a vote and have it decided.

Environment committee  The only thing is that if you were going to have the same meaning in English, you would say, “the Government of Canada bring forth an action plan responding to the recommendations made in the 2006 climate change report of the Commissioner of the Environment”, and if members would like to change the English to that as well.... But I think we're fine with the French as proposed by Monsieur Lussier.

Environment committee  The motion reads, as committee members now have it, as follows: “That the Government of Canada bring forth an action plan addressing recommendations made in the 2006 climate change report by the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development.” The letter told us things that we already knew in terms of the government's promises and commitments to deliver such a plan.

Environment committee  No reference whatsoever is made to the letter in question. The issue is the 2006 report of the Commissioner of the Environment on climate change. This is a public report. Everyone is aware of the situation and of the recommendations. Regarding the substance of the recommendations, it should be remembered that when the Commissioner of the Environment tabled her report, she stated in no uncertain terms -- and I'm summarizing her comments -- that if the government was unable to meet its Kyoto targets and felt that these targets were unattainable, then it had a duty to tell us how it planned to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and what plan it was prepared to put forward.

Environment committee  It is simply to say that with a letter like this from the auditor--let's be clear of the timeline--that the government knew of this review going on with climate change programs. It was going on all last year. The reports were being conducted in the summer. The government agreed to the recommendations that were given to them in the summertime to release this plan.

Environment committee  Cullen is: “That the Government of Canada bring forth an action plan addressing the recommendations made in the 2006 climate change report by the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development.”