 Vaudreuil-Dorion, February 5, 2010 – On January 29, in the context of pre-budget consultations, Meili Faille, Bloc Québécois public accounts critic and member for Vaudreuil-Soulanges and Claude DeBellefeuille, Bloc Québécois Deputy Whip and member for Beauharnois-Salaberry met with various regional stakeholders. During this meeting on the Environment and Sustainable Development, the Members put forward the measures being proposed by the Bloc Québecois. In turn, the various environmental stakeholders expressed their expectations as to the upcoming federal budget.
OUR REGIONAL ORGANISATIONS ARE UNDERFUNDED
The meeting clearly brought to light the endemic underfunding of regional organisations that care about the environment. These organizations have been hard hit by a conservative government that has, year after year, consistently ignored their funding requests for enhanced operational budgets.
STAYING THE COURSE ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Environmentally innovative companies that develop green energy expertise contribute to greater productivity, support economic recovery and pave the way for improved environmental performance. The companies denounce both the government’s short-sightedness and the lack of programmes to support the marketing of their products and services.
Meili Faille and Claude DeBellefeuille wish to thank the participants for their attendance at this meeting. Once all meetings will have taken place, attendees comments will form the basis of a report to be handed to Daniel Paillé, BQ finance critic and member for Hochelaga, who will present the report to the Minister of Finance on behalf of the Bloc Québecois prior to the upcoming federal budget of March 4, 2010.
MAJOR SETBACK FOR GHG REDUCTION TARGETS
The Bloc Québécois is dismayed by Federal Environment minister Jim Prentice’s announcement that his government intends to change its 2020 greenhouse gas reduction target from 20% based on 2006 levels, as has consistently been stated by the Conservatives, to 17% below 2005 levels. This change represents a serious setback.
« We are increasingly losing sight of Kyoto targets, yet the Canadian government had made a commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions between 2008 and 2012 by 6%, on average, over 1990 levels. We knew that the Conservatives strongly opposed any constraints when it came to greenhouse gas emissions but we never cease to be astonished by the fact that they are so intent on giving free rein to large emitters. This is unacceptable for the environment and it is unacceptable to Quebeckers who want a greener environment and have been investing in it for years» stated Bernard Bigras, Bloc Québécois environment critic and member for Rosemont-La Petite Patrie.
CREATING A CREDIBLE CLIMATE CHANGE PLAN
Canada cut a sorry figure in Copenhagen by maintaining a rigid and retrograde position. By refusing to agree to binding greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets as advocated by the Bloc Québecois, the Conservative Government is depriving Quebec-based companies of the financial benefits of their GHG reduction efforts over the past ten years. The Bloc Québecois reiterates its request to the federal government for the establishment of a regulatory framework. Indeed, not only must reduction efforts be in keeping with a territorial approach, but they must also be managed through a carbon trade system within a carbon exchange.
GOING BEYOND OIL
As proposed last fall by the Bloc Québécois, The Conservative government must adopt a plan to encourage the use of electric cars by individuals, certain companies and the self-employed (taxi drivers, etc.). Further, the Bloc Québécois supports the use of tax incentives for conversions to clean heating sources and for the development of a green economy through the use of alternative sources such as wind, biomass, geothermics and solar energy.
It should also be noted that the Bloc Québécois, as originator of the high speed rail project begun in October 2006, will not simply stand idly by as the government hides behind studies so as to delay the deployment of high speed rail.
UPCOMING PREBUDGET CONSULTATIONS IN VAUDREUIL-SOULANGES
On February 8, 2010, a meeting on municipal and regional infrastructure will be held at the Musée régional de Vaudreuil-Soulanges. At this meeting, Meili Faille, member for Vaudreuil-Soulanges will be accompanied by Mario Laframboise, Bloc Québecois member for Argenteuil-Papineau-Mirabel, lead organiser and Transport, Infrastructure and Communities critic. M. Laframboise will certainly be sharing his knowledge of municipal government with participants as he has held positions as treasurer, vice-president and president of the Unions des municipalités du Québec (UMQ), before becoming mayor of the municipality of the parish of Notre-Dame-de-la-Paix from 1983 to 2000 and reeve of the regional county municipality of Papineau from 1987 to 2000.
On February 11, at the Chapelle émaillée de Bernard Séguin-Poirier, we will be holding a meeting on culture and the needs of artists and artisans. There will also be a meeting held on the same day, February 11, 2010, with organisations serving seniors and retirees.
For more information on dates and event locations, Meili Faille, member for Vaudreuil-Soulanges and Bloc Québécois Public Accounts critic invites you to visit her web site at: http://www.meilifaille.org/?page=actualites
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Source : Jonathan Lévesque, media relations officer
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