Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I was pleased today when the Premier made a statement on the Kyoto accord. I had hoped that we would have an opportunity to spend some more time discussing that issue during this session and unfortunately, because we do not have committee of the whole today, we are not going to be able to.
I would like to speak about the Kyoto accord. I have to say that after living almost 30 years in the North I accept that climate change is happening, we can see the evidence here. Statistics verify that, and personal observations are confirming that.
I see milder winters, degradation of permafrost, shorter seasons for ice roads, and I know that has had an important economic impact on the North. With the reduction of permafrost, our changing permafrost and shorter winters we will see reduced exploration for oil and gas. There will be a shorter time for mining companies to get in supplies.
Obviously, Mr. Speaker, if we do nothing there will be a cost. On the face of it, a target of reduced emissions of 6 percent below 1990 levels does not sound too unreasonable. I think it is a target that most Northerners will likely support on the understanding that they will not have to pay disproportionately to achieve it.
Mr. Speaker, that is the frustration though. The lack of detail in the federal plan to implement the accord. As the Minister said today, the cost to this government and northern businesses of taking action to meet Canada's emission reduction obligations remains largely unknown.
So like most Canadians, I am at a disadvantage when trying to discuss the cost implications for my neighbours and me. The federal government, in cooperation with provincial and territorial governments, needs to present better documented costing estimates in order for the discussion to be meaningful. We should not be rushing into affirming the accord, it is much too important. We need to take the time to develop a plan so that people know the cost of action compared to the costs of not acting.
The bottom line, for me, I support doing something. But let's make sure that the costs to Northerners are fair and reasonable. Let's tell the federal government that we agree we need to do something about climate change, but let's also tell them that we expect to see a more detailed plan that Northerners and indeed all Canadians can discuss before simply adopting the Kyoto accord. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
-- Applause