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(OTTAWA) – Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada (MP, Saanich-Gulf Islands), released the following statement:

“As Greens, we will always welcome better protection for our coastlines,” Ms. May said. “This is a three-ocean strategy that recognizes we are poorly prepared to deal with marine spills and emergency response. To that end, investments in the Canadian Coast Guard and marine emergency response are welcome.

“I’m very pleased to see the Prime Minister respond so quickly to a motion passed in the House on Oct. 26, put forward by Bernadette Jordan (MP, South Shore—St. Margarets) and which I seconded. This motion called for a comprehensive plan to address abandoned, derelict and wrecked vessels, including making vessel owners responsible and liable for vessel clean-up,” Ms. May said. “This is a significant problem in my riding of Saanich-Gulf Islands and across Vancouver Island.

“However, nothing in today’s announcement clears the way for cabinet’s approval of the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project. There is insufficient scientific evidence to justify a seven-fold increase in tanker traffic through the Salish Sea and Burrard Inlet that carries dilbit, a toxic mix of solid bitumen and diluent. We need further research to understand how dilbit behaves in a marine environment following a spill.

“The Kinder Morgan decision will serve as the litmus test to Prime Minister Trudeau’s commitment to genuine protection of our coastline, the environment and to real climate action,” Ms. May concluded.

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Accepting on Ms. May’s behalf were: Dr. Gordon McBean, O.C., President-elect of International Council for Science; Chair, Canadian Climate Forum, Director of Policy for the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction, and former ADM of Environment Canada, and Dr. Jim Bruce, O.C., an internationally renowned expert on water and climate who has held positions as Environment Canada Director and ADM; Acting Deputy Secretary General of the World Meteorological Organization, and Co-Chair of the Economic and Social Dimensions Working Group of the IPCC.

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With all respect to the hon. parliamentary secretary, I suggest to him that his three tiers are not enough. We have to have airport security as a priority and border security as a priority.

When the unions that represent border service agents say they think smugglers will get the upper hand, Canadians should be worried.

When the RCMP officers are pulled from our airports for austerity reasons, I think we should all be concerned. It is a small amount of prudence for a large amount of benefit.

Pierre Poilievre: Mr. Speaker, the RCMP as the police of jurisdiction will continue a police presence at the Kelowna and Victoria airports with routine patrols and in response to 911 emergency calls for service. I assure the member that the RCMP is well equipped, well trained and well positioned to continue to carry out this essential function. We will support our national police force in so doing.

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As well, the RCMP presence was withdrawn from Kelowna. Although Kelowna is in quite a spectacularly beautiful part of Canada, in the Okanagan, it happens to be, according to security experts with whom I have consulted, something of a thoroughfare for the smuggling of drugs and weapons. It is in an area where there are significant markets in northern Alberta and, without the RCMP detachment at the Kelowna airport, there is a concern that there will be an increase in drug dealing and other offences.

This comes at the same time as significant cutbacks in border security agents. According to the union representing the border guards, the Canada Border Services Agency has had cuts of up to 1,000 people. A lot of us saw the news coverage of the loss of the canine division, which was very efficient, effective and accurate at detecting the presence of illicit drugs and narcotics and so forth at borders. We have lost the canine division, we have lost the workforce of Canada Border Services agents who worked with that canine force, and we are losing security along the Canada–U.S. border at the same time that these cutbacks at the RCMP have lost us protection in our airports.

I have to say that I find this rather baffling, coming from an administration that has fashioned itself as being tough on crime and as being one that wants to protect Canada and Canadians from the threats of violent crime and the threats of illegal and illicit activity. This is in fact not just affecting particularly the Canada Border Services agents, not just affecting so-called backroom arrangements, agents and operations, but actually will affect the front-line operations of border security agents in such a way that the president of the union feels that smugglers will get the upper hand.

It really would be appropriate for the federal government to revisit these ill-advised cuts and to restore and replace the presence of RCMP officers in the class 2 airports, such as in Victoria and in Kelowna, and at the same time to revisit the cutting of border security agents. These are ill-conceived cuts that will cause far more damage through the loss of security than they can possibly gain in austerity.

Pierre Poilievre: Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for Saanich—Gulf Islands for providing me with the opportunity to respond to some of her concerns. Like other police services across Canada, the RCMP in British Columbia provides on-site policing at airports. Airport security in Canada is designated into three tiers across the country.

Tier 1 includes larger airports with policing detachments such as Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Vancouver and similar other larger centres. The policing detachment in each tier 1 airport is provided by the police of the jurisdiction in that municipality where the airport is located.

Tier 2 airports are located in medium-sized municipalities that include cities like Kelowna or Victoria.

Tier 3 airports are located in small communities across Canada and do not have dedicated police presence as part of their security measures.

Security assessment of all airports is a continuous effort of Transport Canada.

The funding for airport security measures is paid directly by Transport Canada to the airport authorities and the municipality.

The RCMP provision of policing services under contract is conducted through co-operation with the municipality and the chief operating officer in each airport.

Total security operations for each airport include various measures, for example, perimeter fencing, employee security passes and controlled access zones. Budget allocations by Transport Canada are based on the assessment to determine the risks and need for security at each airport.

In 2012, Transport Canada estimated that existing security measures as a whole at tier 2 airports, including Kelowna and Victoria, other than dedicated police officers and detachments, were sufficient to ensure public safety at these airports.

We have confidence in Transport Canada’s assessment that the overall security package at Canadian airports, including Kelowna and Victoria, provide maximum security and safety measures for all Canadians. Let me assure the House that the policing presence at Kelowna and Victoria airports is ongoing through routine patrols and by responding to all emergency 911 calls for service.

With that being said, I thank the member for her query and I now anticipate her follow-up.

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May was voted “Hardest Working MP” in 2013 (12%), beating Jason Kenney (11%), and Prime Minister Stephen Harper (9%).

In the “Best Constituency MP” category, May shared first place with Linda Duncan and Cheryl Gallant (5%).

“Elizabeth’s constituents will not be surprised by these results. We are so proud of her. As impressive as her work is in Ottawa, her constituency remains her priority,” said Emily McMillan, Executive Director of the Green Party of Canada.

“On the eve of provincial elections in British Columbia, these honours are a reminder for voters that the Greens will put country before party and work hard on their behalf,” said McMillan.

Elizabeth May won Maclean’s Parliamentarian of the Year Award in 2012.

NOTE: Pictures of Elizabeth May during her local Town Hall meetings last January.

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These town halls are an opportunity for Elizabeth to meet her constituents and hear about their concerns and priorities. As well, she updates constituents about her actions and work in the House of Commons on their behalf.

These clips are from Elizabeth’s town hall in Sidney in January 2013.

Omnibus Amendments

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Pipelines

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FIPA

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Highlights from the Fall Session

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The post Sidney Town Hall Videos appeared first on Elizabeth May.

These town halls are an opportunity for Elizabeth to meet her constituents and hear about their concerns and priorities. As well, she updates constituents about her actions and work in the House of Commons on their behalf.

These clips are from Elizabeth’s town hall in Saanich in January 2013.

Constituent Work

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Fall Session Highlights

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The post Saanich Town Hall Videos appeared first on Elizabeth May.

These town halls are an opportunity for Elizabeth to meet her constituents and hear about their concerns and priorities. As well, she updates constituents about her actions and work in the House of Commons on their behalf.

These clips are from Elizabeth’s town hall on Mayne Island in January 2013.

Arctic Ice Melt

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FIPA

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Marine Conservation

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Omnibus Amendments

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Kinder Morgan Pipeline

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Resource Development

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