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TRANSCRIPT (from Hansard)
Mr. Peter Julian (Burnaby—New Westminster, NDP):
Mr. Speaker, Canadians are flabbergasted to find out the Conservatives want to break our solemn commitment on the Kyoto protocol. Of the 191 countries that signed and ratified the Kyoto protocol agreement, Canada is the only country repudiating it.
Canada's obligations under this agreement are legally binding. Canada's obligations to fight climate change are morally binding. Canada's obligations to future generations should be clear to all.
How can the Conservatives justify abandoning Canada's legal and moral obligations to fight climate change? How can they betray future generations so irresponsibly?
Hon. Christian Paradis (Minister of Industry and Minister of State (Agriculture), CPC):
Mr. Speaker, our government is balancing the need for a cleaner and healthier environment by protecting jobs and economic growth. We need an effective agreement. Effective means it must include large emitters. The Kyoto protocol does not include major emitters like China and the United States, and therefore will not work.
Canada will not sign onto a new agreement that does not include all major emitters.
Mr. Peter Julian (Burnaby—New Westminster, NDP):
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives set weak insipid targets and they did not even meet their own targets. They did not get the job done.
Canada signed a legally binding international agreement. Instead of even trying to honour our word, Conservatives choose to abandon the Kyoto protocol. This is nothing less than environmental vandalism. This irresponsible action harms the planet, and kills the next generation of clean energy and Canadian jobs.
Why will the government not be responsible, show leadership, and join the rest of the world in the fight against climate change? Why is it betraying Canadians' commitment to the environment?
Hon. Christian Paradis (Minister of Industry and Minister of State (Agriculture), CPC):
Mr. Speaker, we are committed to reducing Canada's greenhouse gas emissions by 17% below 2005 levels by 2020 and we are making good progress.
Our government is balancing the need for a cleaner and healthier environment with protecting jobs and economic growth. We need an effective agreement, and that is why the major emitters must absolutely be at the table. The Kyoto protocol does not include major emitters like China and the United States and therefore will not work. Canada will not sign onto a new agreement that does not include all major emitters.
Mr. Peter Julian (Burnaby—New Westminster, NDP):
Mr. Speaker, there is no balance. That is completely irresponsible. The Conservatives want to withdraw Canada from the Kyoto protocol and they will do so only after the summit in Durban. The Minister of the Environment's presence in Durban is a complete charade. He is going there to obstruct and stifle progress, derail talks and act like an environmental vandal. Even Brian Mulroney signed international treaties against climate change, so why are the Conservatives doing the opposite? Why are they betraying future generations? Why are they betraying the future of our planet?
Hon. Christian Paradis (Minister of Industry and Minister of State (Agriculture), CPC):
Mr. Speaker, with all due respect to the hon. member, it is strange to hear him use the word "balance". We want to balance protecting the environment with creating jobs. A government cannot take into account both the environment and the economy with an election platform that advocates $10 billion in taxes, or an environmental platform that would increase gas by 10¢ a litre.
Mr. Speaker, let us be clear: we need an effective agreement, which takes the major greenhouse gas emitters and the protocol—
The Speaker:
Order, please.
The hon. member for Halifax.
Ms. Megan Leslie (Halifax, NDP):
...
Hon. Peter Kent (Minister of the Environment, CPC):
...
Ms. Megan Leslie (Halifax, NDP):
...
Hon. Peter Kent (Minister of the Environment, CPC):
...
Hon. Bob Rae (Toronto Centre, Lib.):
...
Hon. Christian Paradis (Minister of Industry and Minister of State (Agriculture), CPC):
...
Ms. Kirsty Duncan (Etobicoke North, Lib.):
...
Hon. Peter Kent (Minister of the Environment, CPC):
...
Mr. Louis Plamondon (Bas-Richelieu—Nicolet—Bécancour, BQ):
...
Hon. Peter Kent (Minister of the Environment, CPC):
...
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Question Period, 29 November 2011 (Parliament of Canada): The Environmentby SaveEC414 views
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