Industry committee  We understand the importance of the information and communications technologies, in which investments in R & D are the largest in the private sector. This sector supplies over 500,000 high-quality, well-paid jobs in Canada. ICTs are an essential element in our future. To become more productive and competitive, businesses in all sectors of the economy need ICTs.

The Environment  Mr. Speaker, as I reported earlier this year and as we go sector-by-sector, we see constant benefits. We are heavily into the benefit side of the two sectors already regulated. The results can be found on the Environment Canada website. We are halfway to achieving our Copenhagen 2020 reduction targets.

The Environment  Speaker, in comparison to the lip service of the previous Liberal government, we do have a climate change plan, a sector-by-sector plan, which does not involve the carbon tax that they favoured. When I go to Doha next week, we will work to engage other countries to write a new climate change regime.

The Environment  Speaker, first of all, to correct my colleague, today's announcement of regulations from 2017 to 2025 follow on regulations announced a year and a half ago, two years ago for the model years 2011 to 2016. Our accounting methods for our sector-by-sector approach have been recognized. They are accepted internationally. I will be going to Doha to work with like-minded countries to ensure that we create a new climate change regime including all major emitters.

The Environment  Mr. Speaker, our accounting methods for our sector by sector approach to responsibly regulating Canada's emitting sectors have been recognized and accepted internationally. We are half way toward accomplishing our Copenhagen 2020 reduction targets.

The Environment  Speaker, that is a slight mischaracterization of our exchange yesterday in committee. Our sector-by-sector plan to reduce GHG emissions started with the regulation of the two sectors that contribute the greatest number of megatonnes every year: tailpipe emissions and coal-fired electricity.

The Environment  The cost-benefits are available. A total number cannot be given until we regulate all of the other sectors in our sector-by-sector plan. The number that Canadians are interested in is the proposed $21 billion carbon tax that the NDP would pick out of the pockets of hard-working Canadian taxpayers.

Environment committee  The important thing is the absolute reduction of greenhouse gases sector by sector—

Environment committee  The actual cost of achieving our megatonnage reduction sector by sector is far less important than the fact that we are 50% of the way towards achieving our 2020 Copenhagen targets.

Environment committee  That was the reason our government announced, from the day that we first assumed office until we gave notice after the Durban conference last year, that the Government of Canada regarded the Kyoto protocol as ineffective and unfair, particularly in the context of Canada's circumstances. With regard to the cost of implementing sector-by-sector greenhouse gas reductions to meet our Copenhagen 2020 targets, those costs are borne on the basis of polluter pays. The sectors pay. We've done it in a very non-prescriptive manner, unlike some other countries that use the regulatory tool.

Environment committee  Almost 10% of Canada's land mass is now protected, an area greater than that of the province of British Columbia. On climate change, the department is heavily engaged in implementing our sector-by-sector regulatory approach and in working with the provinces and territories to reduce emissions. We have combined efforts to reduce electricity emissions through a range of measures designed to shift away from high-emission sources of electricity and to reduce demand through energy efficiency.

International Trade  That is the equivalent of a $1,000 increase to the average Canadian family's income, or 80,000 new jobs. In sector after sector across the country, Canadians are counting on our government to negotiate an ambitious agreement with the EU and we are not going to let them down. Canada's economy has thrived with free trade.

The Environment  The interesting thing to note in our most recent greenhouse gas emissions inventory, earlier this year, is that even though Canada only produces 2% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions in total, we have been very active in pursuing a sector-by-sector regulatory approach to pragmatically reduce the amount of greenhouse gases that are produced in a way that still balances real results with economic growth. In that greenhouse gas emissions inventory, we saw, for the first time, the stabilization of the growth of greenhouse gas emissions while the economy grew.

Climate Change  Speaker, I thank my colleague opposite for the opportunity to point out that Canada is the first country internationally to have regulations on coal-fired power plants. Our sector-by-sector regulatory approach is seeing real, tangible reductions to greenhouse gas emissions, as opposed to the Liberal Party, which saw a 30% increase in greenhouse gas emissions under its tenure, and the NDP voted against our measures to support climate change adaptation in the north.

House debate  They understand the need for jobs and economic growth and to balance that within a strong environmental stewardship plan. We feel very strongly that the sector-by-sector regulatory approach takes that action. Therefore, in the spirit of the good discussions that we had this afternoon in the environment committee, I would ask the member to look at the real action plan that we have, to get behind it and support some of our budgetary measures in these important areas.