IN THE HOUSE ~ Question ~ Why will the Harper government not get serious about preventing spills?

    M. Peter Julian (Burnaby—New Westminster, NPD): Monsieur le Président, certains disent que les fuites de pétrole sont bonnes pour l'économie, parce que cela crée des emplois de nettoyage. Cela a encore moins de bon sens que l'exercice de relations publiques des conservateurs, qui se résume à installer des caméras pour observer les fuites de pétrole, et ce, après avoir sabré dans les programmes d'urgence. Les conservateurs aiment beaucoup les caméras cachées, on le sait. Est-ce pour une nouvelle émission de téléréalité conservatrice? Quand vont-ils enfin mettre en place des règles de protection environnementales solides?

    Mr. David Anderson (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and for the Canadian Wheat Board, CPC): Mr. Speaker, we have consistently worked to protect the environment, the economy and Canadian jobs. When our leaders travel around the world, they do not come back and get comments such as the NDP leader. Once again he demonstrated he is not prime ministerial material. We do not have premiers saying that the NDP leader is betraying Canadian interests. We do not have premiers saying they do not think it shows national leadership. We do not have, as he does, his own colleague, the NDP leader from Saskatchewan, saying he supports the Keystone XL pipeline and would like the NDP here to get onside with that.

    Mr. Peter Julian (Burnaby—New Westminster, NDP): Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister closed the environmental emergencies programming in B.C. The Prime Minister closed the marine traffic control centre in Vancouver. The Prime Minister closed the Kitsilano Coast Guard station. The Prime Minister gives new meaning to the word reckless.

The Leader of the Opposition is responsible, and that is why we stand behind him.

    Canadians want the federal government to ensure--

    Some hon. members: Oh, oh!

    The Speaker: Order, please. The hon. member for Burnaby—New Westminster has the floor.

    Mr. Peter Julian: Mr. Speaker, they cannot bear to hear the truth.

    Canadians want the federal government to ensure strong environmental protections to make sure that oil spills never happen, not to watch the spills on TV.

    Why do the Conservatives not properly evaluate projects in the first place? Why will they not get serious about preventing spills? Why are they so irresponsible?

    Mr. David Anderson (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and for the Canadian Wheat Board, CPC): Mr. Speaker, if he was paying attention, he would know that yesterday we introduced the framework for our world-class oil spill response plan. He knows that.

    What is more important is that these folks oppose everything to do with energy development. They oppose all hydrocarbon development. They oppose all mining projects. They oppose nuclear energy. They are standing against Canadian jobs consistently. We ask them to quit doing that.

    If they are going to do it, they should quit doing it in this country and quit doing it internationally, stand with us and protect the Canadian environment and the Canadian economy.

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