Speech (House debate)

{
    "time": "2009-05-13 15:50:00",
    "attribution": {
        "en": "Mrs. Carol Hughes (Algoma\u2014Manitoulin\u2014Kapuskasing, NDP)",
        "fr": ""
    },
    "content": {
        "en": "<p data-HoCid=\"1472735\" data-originallang=\"en\">Mr. Speaker, although I rise in support of this bill, I would like to take this opportunity to expand on some key points and concerns. We feel that Bill <a data-HoCid=\"3708102\" href=\"/bills/40-2/C-16/\" title=\"An Act to amend certain Acts that relate to the environment and to enact provisions respecting the enforcement of certain Acts that relate to the environment\">C-16</a>, an act that relates to the environment and enacts provisions respecting the enforcement of certain acts that relate to the environment, is a step in the right direction. For this reason, we are supportive.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1472736\" data-originallang=\"en\">However, it should be noted that this act is still lacking in several areas. Hopefully we will see many more improvements to this act in the near future. I think it is ironic that the government has tabled the bill claiming that it is committed to enforcing environmental laws, given the fact that it has failed to live up to its Kyoto commitments. Furthermore, let us not forget that this is the very government that is busy gutting federal environmental laws in order to expedite its so-called stimulus package.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1472737\" data-originallang=\"en\">It has relaxed the very requirements and laws pertaining to the Navigable Waters Protection Act, which could very well result in ecological impacts on some of our waterways. The Navigable Waters Act was gutted by the Conservatives during the 2009 budget and we think that is an exceptional shame. This underlines the fact that they have no long-term vision or real understanding of environmental issues. Improvements to be made include the need for enforceable regulations pertaining to greenhouse gases or for countless toxins and pollutants that are awaiting regulations under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act or the Fisheries Act.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1472738\" data-originallang=\"en\">Bill <a data-HoCid=\"3708102\" href=\"/bills/40-2/C-16/\" title=\"An Act to amend certain Acts that relate to the environment and to enact provisions respecting the enforcement of certain Acts that relate to the environment\">C-16</a> redefines penalties. However, the penalties are not increased for corporations. Under the bill, there is no jail time for corporations that break laws, yet it increases the financial toll and jail times for individuals. This is another example of how the government favours the big corporations. We saw that today with respect to the $90 million, based on the Auditor General's report, where the businesses are basically using Canada Revenue as an investment purpose as opposed to a way to pay their taxes. We think that is a shame.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1472739\" data-originallang=\"en\">The increases in individual punishments are, at times, five times those originally prescribed prior to Bill <a data-HoCid=\"3708102\" href=\"/bills/40-2/C-16/\" title=\"An Act to amend certain Acts that relate to the environment and to enact provisions respecting the enforcement of certain Acts that relate to the environment\">C-16</a>. Yet the same adjustments are not made in relation to corporations. Basically, Bill C-16 amends eight different acts to create a uniform system of punishment. However, it is noted that these particular punishments are flawed. The impact on individuals has been increased dramatically, yet the punishments for corporations are basically inconsequential.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1472740\" data-originallang=\"en\">Most of us remember, in April 2008, the incident pertaining Syncrude Canada Ltd. and the impact on environmental issues that it created. Improvements\u2014</p>",
        "fr": "<p data-HoCid=\"1472735\" data-originallang=\"en\">Monsieur le Pr\u00e9sident, en prenant la parole pour appuyer ce projet de loi, j'en profite pour soulever quelques \u00e9l\u00e9ments cl\u00e9s et quelques pr\u00e9occupations. Nous estimons que le projet de loi <a data-HoCid=\"3708102\" href=\"/bills/40-2/C-16/\" title=\"An Act to amend certain Acts that relate to the environment and to enact provisions respecting the enforcement of certain Acts that relate to the environment\">C-16</a>, Loi modifiant certaines lois environnementales et \u00e9dictant des dispositions ayant trait au contr\u00f4le d\u2019application de lois environnementales, est un pas dans la bonne direction. C'est pourquoi nous l'appuyons.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1472736\" data-originallang=\"en\">Cependant, ce projet de loi pr\u00e9sente des lacunes \u00e0 diff\u00e9rents points de vue. Nous esp\u00e9rons qu'un bon nombre d'am\u00e9liorations seront apport\u00e9es \u00e0 cette mesure l\u00e9gislative dans un proche avenir. Je pense qu'il est paradoxal que le gouvernement ait d\u00e9pos\u00e9 ce projet de loi en pr\u00e9tendant qu'il est d\u00e9termin\u00e9 \u00e0 faire appliquer les lois environnementales, m\u00eame s'il a lui-m\u00eame \u00e9t\u00e9 incapable de s'acquitter de ses engagements en vertu de Kyoto. En outre, n'oublions pas que c'est ce m\u00eame gouvernement qui est tr\u00e8s occup\u00e9 en ce moment \u00e0 vider de leur substance les lois environnementales f\u00e9d\u00e9rales pour acc\u00e9l\u00e9rer la mise en oeuvre de ses pr\u00e9tendues mesures de relance.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1472737\" data-originallang=\"en\">Il a assoupli les exigences et les lois concernant la Loi sur la protection des eaux navigables, ce qui risque fort d'avoir un impact \u00e9cologique sur certains de nos cours d'eau. La Loi sur la protection des eaux navigables a \u00e9t\u00e9 vid\u00e9e de sa substance par les conservateurs pendant l'exercice budg\u00e9taire de 2009. Nous pensons que c'est tout \u00e0 fait honteux. Cela met du coup en lumi\u00e8re le manque de vision \u00e0 long terme du gouvernement et son incapacit\u00e9 de comprendre les questions environnementales. Des r\u00e8glements relatifs aux gaz \u00e0 effet de serre ou aux toxines et aux polluants innombrables qui tombent sous le coup de la Loi canadienne sur la protection de l'environnement ou de la Loi sur les p\u00eaches font partie des am\u00e9liorations qui doivent \u00eatre apport\u00e9es au projet de loi.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1472738\" data-originallang=\"en\">Le projet de loi <a data-HoCid=\"3708102\" href=\"/bills/40-2/C-16/\" title=\"An Act to amend certain Acts that relate to the environment and to enact provisions respecting the enforcement of certain Acts that relate to the environment\">C-16</a> red\u00e9finit les sanctions applicables. Cependant, celles-ci ne sont pas durcies pour les entreprises. En vertu du projet de loi, il est impossible d'imposer des peines d'emprisonnement aux dirigeants d'entreprises qui enfreignent la loi. Par contre, le projet de loi augmente les amendes et la dur\u00e9e des peines d'emprisonnement pour les particuliers. Voil\u00e0 un autre exemple de la fa\u00e7on dont le gouvernement favorise les grosses compagnies. Nous avons pu le constater aujourd'hui \u00e0 la lumi\u00e8re du rapport de la v\u00e9rificatrice g\u00e9n\u00e9rale au sujet de ces 90 millions de dollars. Essentiellement, les entreprises utilisent l'Agence du revenu du Canada \u00e0 des fins d'investissement plut\u00f4t que comme un moyen de payer leurs imp\u00f4ts. Quelle honte!</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1472739\" data-originallang=\"en\">Les peines plus lourdes pr\u00e9vues \u00e0 l'\u00e9gard des personnes physiques correspondent parfois \u00e0 cinq fois celles qui \u00e9taient initialement impos\u00e9es avant le projet de loi <a data-HoCid=\"3708102\" href=\"/bills/40-2/C-16/\" title=\"An Act to amend certain Acts that relate to the environment and to enact provisions respecting the enforcement of certain Acts that relate to the environment\">C-16</a>. Pourtant, les m\u00eames rajustements ne sont pas faits pour les personnes morales. Essentiellement, le projet de loi C-16 modifie huit lois diff\u00e9rentes pour cr\u00e9er un syst\u00e8me uniforme de peines. Cependant, on note des lacunes dans ces peines. Les r\u00e9percussions sur les personnes physiques ont augment\u00e9 radicalement, alors que les peines pr\u00e9vues pour les personnes morales sont \u00e0 peu pr\u00e8s sans cons\u00e9quence.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1472740\" data-originallang=\"en\">La plupart d'entre nous avons encore en m\u00e9moire l'incident concernant Syncrude Canada Ltd, survenu en avril 2008, et l'effet qu'il a eu sur les questions environnementales. Des am\u00e9liorations...</p>"
    },
    "url": "/debates/2009/5/13/carol-hughes-1/",
    "politician_url": "/politicians/carol-hughes/",
    "politician_membership_url": "/politicians/memberships/1071/",
    "procedural": false,
    "source_id": "2764889",
    "h1": {
        "en": "Government Orders",
        "fr": ""
    },
    "h2": {
        "en": "Environmental Enforcement Act",
        "fr": ""
    },
    "document_url": "/debates/2009/5/13/",
    "related": {
        "document_speeches_url": "/speeches/?document=%2Fdebates%2F2009%2F5%2F13%2F"
    }
}