My questions are for the Minister of ITI — Industry, Trade and Investment.
Northerners are certainly quite concerned, as are many Canadians, about the whole issue of climate change. They are aware that we need to do business a lot differently than we have been, and that it is not necessarily easy. They are willing to shoulder their responsibilities to provide leadership.
Mr. Speaker, I’m quite concerned about this policy of not allowing support to be spent in an environmentally responsible way. Will the Minister immediately review the so-called travel policy and make the change to allow environmentally responsible travel, at least when there’s no additional costs?
I guess I just want to point out to the Member that’s he’s referring to one incident that happened some time ago. I think, as a government, we are definitely responsible for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Certainly, if it can be shown that the purchase of carbon offsets will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, we would definitely find a way to put it into place. I guess a question is…. The practice of buying carbon offsets from travel agents. Does that really reduce the emission of greenhouse gases?
I had responded to the Member in response to a previous question. At that time he had indicated he would provide me with a list of travel agents he said were able to do exactly that. We would have to satisfy ourselves that paying an extra $20 on an airline ticket to provide for carbon offsets would help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Once we were satisfied that was the case, then we would definitely bring forward a policy for the government to implement when making travel arrangements.
The Member also referenced my letter where I talked about the federal level. In a lot of our human resource practices, sometimes we look to see whether the federal government has done anything in that regard. We are definitely prepared to review that policy, and if it, in fact, will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, we would take forward a request.
I think the Minister misinterpreted my question. The situation was not that my constituent wanted to purchase an offset — in fact she did that, having been forced to travel by air. In this case the constituent wanted to travel by a means that would produce a lot fewer carbon emissions, because there is always the little bit of uncertainty with purchasing offsets. She wanted to travel by land at no additional cost to this government. She was not allowed to do it. She had to travel by air. We were forcing this person to be irresponsible in an environmental sense.
Let me expand on the question, here. I’m concerned that if this interpretation has been given to individuals, the same interpretation will be given to business, which is a big part of ITI’s responsibilities. I’d like to see this concern extended. I use this as a bit of a platform. Will this department review all of their policies with regard to identifying and encouraging opportunities for businesses, as well as individuals, to behave in more environmentally responsible ways at every opportunity when receiving support from this department?
I didn’t think I had misinterpreted, but with regard to the specific policy that he’s referring to — I guess it’s a travel policy — our objective is to make sure that the most economical mode of transportation is used. I’m prepared to review that policy.
With regard to further extending the reach of the government when it makes funding available, I’d be prepared to work with my colleague in implementing the Greenhouse Gas Strategy for the government.
I certainly agree with the most economical travel. This government has to be responsible economically, financially. Of course to do that we need full-cost accounting. Obviously air travel is, when it’s fully accounted for, one of the most expensive ways of travelling that’s possible in this world today. You need to account for the subsidies we give to the airports and so on.
Basically, we’ll let you do the necessary research and departmental self-education to engage in a full-cost accounting review in order to minimize our net costs and improve the health of our land and our people through a very aware full-cost accounting approach.
Yes, I’ll do the necessary research, and I’ll make sure that whatever we follow is consistent with the accounting treatments that are provided for by the Department of Finance.
Final supplementary, Mr. Bromley.
No supplementary, Mr. Speaker. Thank you very much to the Minister for that response.
