GOVERNMENT INVOKES CLOSURE ON KYOTO

December 9, 2002 

OTTAWA – Today, Jay Hill, Member of Parliament for Prince George - Peace River, denounced the government for invoking closure on the debate related to the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol.  

“The government has now established itself as the most undemocratic ruling party in Canadian history.  It has shut down debate on issues that are important to Canadians some 80 times, and today marks number 81,” stated Hill in the House of Commons. 

“The choking off of debate today is the latest example of the disrespect the government has for Canadians, their jobs, their opportunities and their futures.  Furthermore the Canadian public, provinces and industry have no idea what the actual cost of the Prime Minister’s so-called green legacy is likely to be. 

“Public support for this latest Liberal debacle is falling faster than a finance minister from the Peace Tower.  Isn’t the real reason they decided to use closure today, to end the debate before there is no support left out in the real world for this latest Liberal debacle?” Hill demanded from the Minister of the Environment. 

The government’s decision to shut down debate on Kyoto prevented many Members from representing their constituents, including those of Prince George - Peace River.  The final vote on the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol will be held tomorrow afternoon.