Question Period on Canadian lobbying against Fuel Quality Directive

Mr. Claude Gravelle (Nickel Belt, NDP):  
    Mr. Speaker, here is a relevant question. The hypocrisy of the government continues. It has—

    Some hon. members: Oh, oh! 

The Speaker: 
    Order, please. Once again I would ask members to hold their applause until the end of the question and not at the beginning.

    The hon. member for Nickel Belt. 

Mr. Claude Gravelle: 
    Mr. Speaker, the hypocrisy of the government continues. It heralds free trade with the European Union and yet is threatening to take the European Union to the WTO to protect big oil companies and the oil sands.

    The international community is concerned about the environmental costs of the oil sands. Instead of acting to address this, the Conservatives just keep giving larger and larger subsidies to these highly profitable companies.

    How many more black eyes before Conservatives finally wake up and take action on the environment? 

Hon. Joe Oliver (Minister of Natural Resources, CPC):  
    Mr. Speaker, I am disappointed and amazed that the opposition is taking the side of European bureaucrats against the interests of Canadian workers, the Canadian economy and against a key Canadian resource.

    The European Commission would unfairly single out the oil sands without taking into account the actual GHG emissions coming from crude oil from countries like Russia, Nigeria and others, which have the same or higher levels— 

The Speaker: 
    Order, please. The hon. member for Nickel Belt.

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