Tories slammed over China, climate conference
The opposition slammed the Tory government Monday over its recent performance on the world stage, especially taking aim at the prime minister's meeting with the Chinese president and the environment minister's appearance at a UN climate conference.
"Can the prime minister explain how, in two weeks he has managed to do so much damage to our country's reputation," interim Liberal LeaderBill Graham said during question period.
Graham said Harper, who was not in the House of Commons during question period,was a"laughing stock"because of thecontroversy over his meeting with Chinese PresidentHu Jintao.
There had been doubts about whether the two leaders would meet at all.As Harper was en route to the Hanoi summit, Canadian officials said China had pulled out of plans for formal bilateral talks, apparently annoyed that the prime minister intended to raise human rights issues.
Graham dismissed Harper's suggestion that the meeting was historic, saying the 15-minute meeting with Hu only took place on their way to dinner.
Graham said Harper failed to achieve anything and "scored a big fat zero on human rights, foreign investment and tourism."
Trip 'defended the interests' of Canada: Kenney
Parliamentary Secretary Jason Kenney defended Harper's trip, saying they were extremely proud of what theprime minister has done internationally.
"This country defended the interests and values of Canada on an international scale," Kenney said.
Headded that under the Liberals, there was a growing trade deficit and shrinking export market share with China.
Graham also criticizedEnvironment Minister Rona Ambrose for her appearance at last week'sUN climate conference in Kenya, saying she demonstrated "the worst performance."
Liberal MP Lucienne Robillard said Ambrose, who was also not in the House, embarrassed Canadians and made us "look bad on the international scene."
Environmentalists and other delegates at the conference had slammed the Tories forabandoning Canada's emissions-cutting targets under Kyoto. The Conservatives have said that the targets can not be realistically met.
The Conservatives'proposed clean air act, introduced in October, aims to cut emissions by between 45 and 65 per cent from 2003 levels by 2050.
"We are honest when speaking to the world," Kenney said."And the Liberals were dishonest. They lied to Canadians and to the world when it came to theirKyoto commitments."
Under the Liberal government, whichhad signed on to the Kyoto accord, emissions rose 35 per cent.
Tory MP Mark Warawa, parliamentary secretary to the minister of environment, hailed Ambrose's appearance as a "huge success."
But Bloc Québécois MP Bernard Bigras asked how the government canbe proud when Canada received the largest number of fossil awards at the conference. The fossil awards were handed out to countries that performed poorly in combating global warming.
Warawa shot back that Bigras, who was among a number of opposition MPs who attended the conference and publicly criticized the government's position on Kyoto, should "stand up and apologize for his shameful behaviour" in Nairobi.
Asthe two-week conference ended Friday, Canada was among more than 165 countrieswhich agreed to review Kyoto in 2008, with the goal of setting guidelines for reducingemissions after the accord ends in 2012.
The government's proposed clean air act goes before a parliamentary committeethis week, where it is expected to undergo substantial revision by opposition members.
All three opposition parties have said they won't support the act without major changes.