❓ Question regarding the government's decision to abandon the Swan Coastal Plain Wetlands Policy and its potential connection to the Amarillo development. The Minister's response is initially evasive and focuses on personal matters before addressing the questions.
AnsweredQoN 548Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SWAN COASTAL PLAIN WETLANDS POLICY
I refer to the minister’s dumping of the Labor Party’s Swan coastal plain wetlands policy election promise. (1) Was the decision to dump this policy related to the government’s intention to develop the Amarillo site despite this site being severely impacted upon by the proposed policy? (2) When did the minister become aware that I had applied for all environmental documentation related to Amarillo from the department of environment and conversation and the Department of Housing and Works under the freedom of information laws? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr M. McGOWAN
I refer to the minister’s dumping of the Labor Party’s Swan coastal plain wetlands policy election promise. (1) Was the decision to dump this policy related to the government’s intention to develop the Amarillo site despite this site being severely impacted upon by the proposed policy? (2) When did the minister become aware that I had applied for all environmental documentation related to Amarillo from the department of environment and conversation and the Department of Housing and Works under the freedom of information laws? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr M. McGOWAN
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) I am unaware of the department of conversation, which is what the member said! I take it that the member meant to say the Department of Environment and Conservation. I thank the member for Capel, who, of course, until recently was the candidate for Forrest. I also put on record my thanks for something else. I celebrated my thirty-ninth birthday during the recent parliamentary break. Lo and behold, on my thirty-ninth birthday a bunch of flowers arrived. I saw from the attached card that they were from the member for Capel, which surprised me somewhat, as I had never received flowers before. Dr S.C. Thomas : What sort of flowers were they? Mr M. McGOWAN : They were arum lilies. Dr S.C. Thomas : They are poisonous. Mr M. McGOWAN : I am very grateful to the member for sending me flowers on my birthday. Members opposite want to be a little aware that if he invites them over on Friday night for a screening of Brokeback Mountain , they might want to think carefully about whether they attend. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : It may be time for the minister to actually answer the question. Mr M. McGOWAN : I did mean it. I thank the member for Capel for the flowers; they were very nice. The member for Capel asked me about the wetlands environmental protection policy. The government made a decision to not proceed with that policy and that decision was supported by the member for Capel. Does he support that decision? Dr S.C. Thomas : Yes, I do. Mr M. McGOWAN : I fail to see the point of the member’s question. On the morning that I announced that the government would no longer proceed with the EPP, the member for Capel said to me, “Congratulations, minister; great decision. I will have to put out a press release congratulating you on this.” By that afternoon, there was a press release stating that I should apologise. The spin doctors in the Leader of the Opposition’s office got to him and rolled him on this issue. The government decided not to proceed with the policy for all the reasons I expressed in my short ministerial statement. It was very clear. The government believes that the wetlands are appropriately protected by existing laws and measures, and that will continue. Shortly before I made the decision, I considered the issue of the Amarillo development. The wetlands within the proposed Amarillo development as presented on the plan would be in public open space in any event. Some of the other wetlands in the area are already protected by the 1990 lakes environmental protection policy. That is the answer to that question. The EPP would have had no impact on Amarillo in any event. I am unaware of any request that the member has made for documents. I do not follow the requests of the member for Capel very closely.
(1) Was the decision to dump this policy related to the government’s intention to develop the Amarillo site despite this site being severely impacted upon by the proposed policy? (2) When did the minister become aware that I had applied for all environmental documentation related to Amarillo from the department of environment and conversation and the Department of Housing and Works under the freedom of information laws? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr M. McGOWAN replied: (1)-(2) I am unaware of the department of conversation, which is what the member said! I take it that the member meant to say the Department of Environment and Conservation. I thank the member for Capel, who, of course, until recently was the candidate for Forrest. I also put on record my thanks for something else. I celebrated my thirty-ninth birthday during the recent parliamentary break. Lo and behold, on my thirty-ninth birthday a bunch of flowers arrived. I saw from the attached card that they were from the member for Capel, which surprised me somewhat, as I had never received flowers before. Dr S.C. Thomas : What sort of flowers were they? Mr M. McGOWAN : They were arum lilies. Dr S.C. Thomas : They are poisonous. Mr M. McGOWAN : I am very grateful to the member for sending me flowers on my birthday. Members opposite want to be a little aware that if he invites them over on Friday night for a screening of Brokeback Mountain , they might want to think carefully about whether they attend. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : It may be time for the minister to actually answer the question. Mr M. McGOWAN : I did mean it. I thank the member for Capel for the flowers; they were very nice. The member for Capel asked me about the wetlands environmental protection policy. The government made a decision to not proceed with that policy and that decision was supported by the member for Capel. Does he support that decision? Dr S.C. Thomas : Yes, I do. Mr M. McGOWAN : I fail to see the point of the member’s question. On the morning that I announced that the government would no longer proceed with the EPP, the member for Capel said to me, “Congratulations, minister; great decision. I will have to put out a press release congratulating you on this.” By that afternoon, there was a press release stating that I should apologise. The spin doctors in the Leader of the Opposition’s office got to him and rolled him on this issue. The government decided not to proceed with the policy for all the reasons I expressed in my short ministerial statement. It was very clear. The government believes that the wetlands are appropriately protected by existing laws and measures, and that will continue. Shortly before I made the decision, I considered the issue of the Amarillo development. The wetlands within the proposed Amarillo development as presented on the plan would be in public open space in any event. Some of the other wetlands in the area are already protected by the 1990 lakes environmental protection policy. That is the answer to that question. The EPP would have had no impact on Amarillo in any event. I am unaware of any request that the member has made for documents. I do not follow the requests of the member for Capel very closely.
(2) When did the minister become aware that I had applied for all environmental documentation related to Amarillo from the department of environment and conversation and the Department of Housing and Works under the freedom of information laws? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr M. McGOWAN replied: (1)-(2) I am unaware of the department of conversation, which is what the member said! I take it that the member meant to say the Department of Environment and Conservation. I thank the member for Capel, who, of course, until recently was the candidate for Forrest. I also put on record my thanks for something else. I celebrated my thirty-ninth birthday during the recent parliamentary break. Lo and behold, on my thirty-ninth birthday a bunch of flowers arrived. I saw from the attached card that they were from the member for Capel, which surprised me somewhat, as I had never received flowers before. Dr S.C. Thomas : What sort of flowers were they? Mr M. McGOWAN : They were arum lilies. Dr S.C. Thomas : They are poisonous. Mr M. McGOWAN : I am very grateful to the member for sending me flowers on my birthday. Members opposite want to be a little aware that if he invites them over on Friday night for a screening of Brokeback Mountain , they might want to think carefully about whether they attend. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : It may be time for the minister to actually answer the question. Mr M. McGOWAN : I did mean it. I thank the member for Capel for the flowers; they were very nice. The member for Capel asked me about the wetlands environmental protection policy. The government made a decision to not proceed with that policy and that decision was supported by the member for Capel. Does he support that decision? Dr S.C. Thomas : Yes, I do. Mr M. McGOWAN : I fail to see the point of the member’s question. On the morning that I announced that the government would no longer proceed with the EPP, the member for Capel said to me, “Congratulations, minister; great decision. I will have to put out a press release congratulating you on this.” By that afternoon, there was a press release stating that I should apologise. The spin doctors in the Leader of the Opposition’s office got to him and rolled him on this issue. The government decided not to proceed with the policy for all the reasons I expressed in my short ministerial statement. It was very clear. The government believes that the wetlands are appropriately protected by existing laws and measures, and that will continue. Shortly before I made the decision, I considered the issue of the Amarillo development. The wetlands within the proposed Amarillo development as presented on the plan would be in public open space in any event. Some of the other wetlands in the area are already protected by the 1990 lakes environmental protection policy. That is the answer to that question. The EPP would have had no impact on Amarillo in any event. I am unaware of any request that the member has made for documents. I do not follow the requests of the member for Capel very closely.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr M. McGOWAN replied: (1)-(2) I am unaware of the department of conversation, which is what the member said! I take it that the member meant to say the Department of Environment and Conservation. I thank the member for Capel, who, of course, until recently was the candidate for Forrest. I also put on record my thanks for something else. I celebrated my thirty-ninth birthday during the recent parliamentary break. Lo and behold, on my thirty-ninth birthday a bunch of flowers arrived. I saw from the attached card that they were from the member for Capel, which surprised me somewhat, as I had never received flowers before. Dr S.C. Thomas : What sort of flowers were they? Mr M. McGOWAN : They were arum lilies. Dr S.C. Thomas : They are poisonous. Mr M. McGOWAN : I am very grateful to the member for sending me flowers on my birthday. Members opposite want to be a little aware that if he invites them over on Friday night for a screening of Brokeback Mountain , they might want to think carefully about whether they attend. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : It may be time for the minister to actually answer the question. Mr M. McGOWAN : I did mean it. I thank the member for Capel for the flowers; they were very nice. The member for Capel asked me about the wetlands environmental protection policy. The government made a decision to not proceed with that policy and that decision was supported by the member for Capel. Does he support that decision? Dr S.C. Thomas : Yes, I do. Mr M. McGOWAN : I fail to see the point of the member’s question. On the morning that I announced that the government would no longer proceed with the EPP, the member for Capel said to me, “Congratulations, minister; great decision. I will have to put out a press release congratulating you on this.” By that afternoon, there was a press release stating that I should apologise. The spin doctors in the Leader of the Opposition’s office got to him and rolled him on this issue. The government decided not to proceed with the policy for all the reasons I expressed in my short ministerial statement. It was very clear. The government believes that the wetlands are appropriately protected by existing laws and measures, and that will continue. Shortly before I made the decision, I considered the issue of the Amarillo development. The wetlands within the proposed Amarillo development as presented on the plan would be in public open space in any event. Some of the other wetlands in the area are already protected by the 1990 lakes environmental protection policy. That is the answer to that question. The EPP would have had no impact on Amarillo in any event. I am unaware of any request that the member has made for documents. I do not follow the requests of the member for Capel very closely.
The SPEAKER : Order! Mr M. McGOWAN replied: (1)-(2) I am unaware of the department of conversation, which is what the member said! I take it that the member meant to say the Department of Environment and Conservation. I thank the member for Capel, who, of course, until recently was the candidate for Forrest. I also put on record my thanks for something else. I celebrated my thirty-ninth birthday during the recent parliamentary break. Lo and behold, on my thirty-ninth birthday a bunch of flowers arrived. I saw from the attached card that they were from the member for Capel, which surprised me somewhat, as I had never received flowers before. Dr S.C. Thomas : What sort of flowers were they? Mr M. McGOWAN : They were arum lilies. Dr S.C. Thomas : They are poisonous. Mr M. McGOWAN : I am very grateful to the member for sending me flowers on my birthday. Members opposite want to be a little aware that if he invites them over on Friday night for a screening of Brokeback Mountain , they might want to think carefully about whether they attend. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : It may be time for the minister to actually answer the question. Mr M. McGOWAN : I did mean it. I thank the member for Capel for the flowers; they were very nice. The member for Capel asked me about the wetlands environmental protection policy. The government made a decision to not proceed with that policy and that decision was supported by the member for Capel. Does he support that decision? Dr S.C. Thomas : Yes, I do. Mr M. McGOWAN : I fail to see the point of the member’s question. On the morning that I announced that the government would no longer proceed with the EPP, the member for Capel said to me, “Congratulations, minister; great decision. I will have to put out a press release congratulating you on this.” By that afternoon, there was a press release stating that I should apologise. The spin doctors in the Leader of the Opposition’s office got to him and rolled him on this issue. The government decided not to proceed with the policy for all the reasons I expressed in my short ministerial statement. It was very clear. The government believes that the wetlands are appropriately protected by existing laws and measures, and that will continue. Shortly before I made the decision, I considered the issue of the Amarillo development. The wetlands within the proposed Amarillo development as presented on the plan would be in public open space in any event. Some of the other wetlands in the area are already protected by the 1990 lakes environmental protection policy. That is the answer to that question. The EPP would have had no impact on Amarillo in any event. I am unaware of any request that the member has made for documents. I do not follow the requests of the member for Capel very closely.
Mr M. McGOWAN replied: (1)-(2) I am unaware of the department of conversation, which is what the member said! I take it that the member meant to say the Department of Environment and Conservation. I thank the member for Capel, who, of course, until recently was the candidate for Forrest. I also put on record my thanks for something else. I celebrated my thirty-ninth birthday during the recent parliamentary break. Lo and behold, on my thirty-ninth birthday a bunch of flowers arrived. I saw from the attached card that they were from the member for Capel, which surprised me somewhat, as I had never received flowers before. Dr S.C. Thomas : What sort of flowers were they? Mr M. McGOWAN : They were arum lilies. Dr S.C. Thomas : They are poisonous. Mr M. McGOWAN : I am very grateful to the member for sending me flowers on my birthday. Members opposite want to be a little aware that if he invites them over on Friday night for a screening of Brokeback Mountain , they might want to think carefully about whether they attend. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : It may be time for the minister to actually answer the question. Mr M. McGOWAN : I did mean it. I thank the member for Capel for the flowers; they were very nice. The member for Capel asked me about the wetlands environmental protection policy. The government made a decision to not proceed with that policy and that decision was supported by the member for Capel. Does he support that decision? Dr S.C. Thomas : Yes, I do. Mr M. McGOWAN : I fail to see the point of the member’s question. On the morning that I announced that the government would no longer proceed with the EPP, the member for Capel said to me, “Congratulations, minister; great decision. I will have to put out a press release congratulating you on this.” By that afternoon, there was a press release stating that I should apologise. The spin doctors in the Leader of the Opposition’s office got to him and rolled him on this issue. The government decided not to proceed with the policy for all the reasons I expressed in my short ministerial statement. It was very clear. The government believes that the wetlands are appropriately protected by existing laws and measures, and that will continue. Shortly before I made the decision, I considered the issue of the Amarillo development. The wetlands within the proposed Amarillo development as presented on the plan would be in public open space in any event. Some of the other wetlands in the area are already protected by the 1990 lakes environmental protection policy. That is the answer to that question. The EPP would have had no impact on Amarillo in any event. I am unaware of any request that the member has made for documents. I do not follow the requests of the member for Capel very closely.
(1)-(2) I am unaware of the department of conversation, which is what the member said! I take it that the member meant to say the Department of Environment and Conservation. I thank the member for Capel, who, of course, until recently was the candidate for Forrest. I also put on record my thanks for something else. I celebrated my thirty-ninth birthday during the recent parliamentary break. Lo and behold, on my thirty-ninth birthday a bunch of flowers arrived. I saw from the attached card that they were from the member for Capel, which surprised me somewhat, as I had never received flowers before. Dr S.C. Thomas : What sort of flowers were they? Mr M. McGOWAN : They were arum lilies. Dr S.C. Thomas : They are poisonous. Mr M. McGOWAN : I am very grateful to the member for sending me flowers on my birthday. Members opposite want to be a little aware that if he invites them over on Friday night for a screening of Brokeback Mountain , they might want to think carefully about whether they attend. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : It may be time for the minister to actually answer the question. Mr M. McGOWAN : I did mean it. I thank the member for Capel for the flowers; they were very nice. The member for Capel asked me about the wetlands environmental protection policy. The government made a decision to not proceed with that policy and that decision was supported by the member for Capel. Does he support that decision? Dr S.C. Thomas : Yes, I do. Mr M. McGOWAN : I fail to see the point of the member’s question. On the morning that I announced that the government would no longer proceed with the EPP, the member for Capel said to me, “Congratulations, minister; great decision. I will have to put out a press release congratulating you on this.” By that afternoon, there was a press release stating that I should apologise. The spin doctors in the Leader of the Opposition’s office got to him and rolled him on this issue. The government decided not to proceed with the policy for all the reasons I expressed in my short ministerial statement. It was very clear. The government believes that the wetlands are appropriately protected by existing laws and measures, and that will continue. Shortly before I made the decision, I considered the issue of the Amarillo development. The wetlands within the proposed Amarillo development as presented on the plan would be in public open space in any event. Some of the other wetlands in the area are already protected by the 1990 lakes environmental protection policy. That is the answer to that question. The EPP would have had no impact on Amarillo in any event. I am unaware of any request that the member has made for documents. I do not follow the requests of the member for Capel very closely.
Dr S.C. Thomas : What sort of flowers were they? Mr M. McGOWAN : They were arum lilies. Dr S.C. Thomas : They are poisonous. Mr M. McGOWAN : I am very grateful to the member for sending me flowers on my birthday. Members opposite want to be a little aware that if he invites them over on Friday night for a screening of Brokeback Mountain , they might want to think carefully about whether they attend. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : It may be time for the minister to actually answer the question. Mr M. McGOWAN : I did mean it. I thank the member for Capel for the flowers; they were very nice. The member for Capel asked me about the wetlands environmental protection policy. The government made a decision to not proceed with that policy and that decision was supported by the member for Capel. Does he support that decision? Dr S.C. Thomas : Yes, I do. Mr M. McGOWAN : I fail to see the point of the member’s question. On the morning that I announced that the government would no longer proceed with the EPP, the member for Capel said to me, “Congratulations, minister; great decision. I will have to put out a press release congratulating you on this.” By that afternoon, there was a press release stating that I should apologise. The spin doctors in the Leader of the Opposition’s office got to him and rolled him on this issue. The government decided not to proceed with the policy for all the reasons I expressed in my short ministerial statement. It was very clear. The government believes that the wetlands are appropriately protected by existing laws and measures, and that will continue. Shortly before I made the decision, I considered the issue of the Amarillo development. The wetlands within the proposed Amarillo development as presented on the plan would be in public open space in any event. Some of the other wetlands in the area are already protected by the 1990 lakes environmental protection policy. That is the answer to that question. The EPP would have had no impact on Amarillo in any event. I am unaware of any request that the member has made for documents. I do not follow the requests of the member for Capel very closely.
Mr M. McGOWAN : They were arum lilies. Dr S.C. Thomas : They are poisonous. Mr M. McGOWAN : I am very grateful to the member for sending me flowers on my birthday. Members opposite want to be a little aware that if he invites them over on Friday night for a screening of Brokeback Mountain , they might want to think carefully about whether they attend. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : It may be time for the minister to actually answer the question. Mr M. McGOWAN : I did mean it. I thank the member for Capel for the flowers; they were very nice. The member for Capel asked me about the wetlands environmental protection policy. The government made a decision to not proceed with that policy and that decision was supported by the member for Capel. Does he support that decision? Dr S.C. Thomas : Yes, I do. Mr M. McGOWAN : I fail to see the point of the member’s question. On the morning that I announced that the government would no longer proceed with the EPP, the member for Capel said to me, “Congratulations, minister; great decision. I will have to put out a press release congratulating you on this.” By that afternoon, there was a press release stating that I should apologise. The spin doctors in the Leader of the Opposition’s office got to him and rolled him on this issue. The government decided not to proceed with the policy for all the reasons I expressed in my short ministerial statement. It was very clear. The government believes that the wetlands are appropriately protected by existing laws and measures, and that will continue. Shortly before I made the decision, I considered the issue of the Amarillo development. The wetlands within the proposed Amarillo development as presented on the plan would be in public open space in any event. Some of the other wetlands in the area are already protected by the 1990 lakes environmental protection policy. That is the answer to that question. The EPP would have had no impact on Amarillo in any event. I am unaware of any request that the member has made for documents. I do not follow the requests of the member for Capel very closely.
Dr S.C. Thomas : They are poisonous. Mr M. McGOWAN : I am very grateful to the member for sending me flowers on my birthday. Members opposite want to be a little aware that if he invites them over on Friday night for a screening of Brokeback Mountain , they might want to think carefully about whether they attend. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : It may be time for the minister to actually answer the question. Mr M. McGOWAN : I did mean it. I thank the member for Capel for the flowers; they were very nice. The member for Capel asked me about the wetlands environmental protection policy. The government made a decision to not proceed with that policy and that decision was supported by the member for Capel. Does he support that decision? Dr S.C. Thomas : Yes, I do. Mr M. McGOWAN : I fail to see the point of the member’s question. On the morning that I announced that the government would no longer proceed with the EPP, the member for Capel said to me, “Congratulations, minister; great decision. I will have to put out a press release congratulating you on this.” By that afternoon, there was a press release stating that I should apologise. The spin doctors in the Leader of the Opposition’s office got to him and rolled him on this issue. The government decided not to proceed with the policy for all the reasons I expressed in my short ministerial statement. It was very clear. The government believes that the wetlands are appropriately protected by existing laws and measures, and that will continue. Shortly before I made the decision, I considered the issue of the Amarillo development. The wetlands within the proposed Amarillo development as presented on the plan would be in public open space in any event. Some of the other wetlands in the area are already protected by the 1990 lakes environmental protection policy. That is the answer to that question. The EPP would have had no impact on Amarillo in any event. I am unaware of any request that the member has made for documents. I do not follow the requests of the member for Capel very closely.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I am very grateful to the member for sending me flowers on my birthday. Members opposite want to be a little aware that if he invites them over on Friday night for a screening of Brokeback Mountain , they might want to think carefully about whether they attend. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : It may be time for the minister to actually answer the question. Mr M. McGOWAN : I did mean it. I thank the member for Capel for the flowers; they were very nice. The member for Capel asked me about the wetlands environmental protection policy. The government made a decision to not proceed with that policy and that decision was supported by the member for Capel. Does he support that decision? Dr S.C. Thomas : Yes, I do. Mr M. McGOWAN : I fail to see the point of the member’s question. On the morning that I announced that the government would no longer proceed with the EPP, the member for Capel said to me, “Congratulations, minister; great decision. I will have to put out a press release congratulating you on this.” By that afternoon, there was a press release stating that I should apologise. The spin doctors in the Leader of the Opposition’s office got to him and rolled him on this issue. The government decided not to proceed with the policy for all the reasons I expressed in my short ministerial statement. It was very clear. The government believes that the wetlands are appropriately protected by existing laws and measures, and that will continue. Shortly before I made the decision, I considered the issue of the Amarillo development. The wetlands within the proposed Amarillo development as presented on the plan would be in public open space in any event. Some of the other wetlands in the area are already protected by the 1990 lakes environmental protection policy. That is the answer to that question. The EPP would have had no impact on Amarillo in any event. I am unaware of any request that the member has made for documents. I do not follow the requests of the member for Capel very closely.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : It may be time for the minister to actually answer the question. Mr M. McGOWAN : I did mean it. I thank the member for Capel for the flowers; they were very nice. The member for Capel asked me about the wetlands environmental protection policy. The government made a decision to not proceed with that policy and that decision was supported by the member for Capel. Does he support that decision? Dr S.C. Thomas : Yes, I do. Mr M. McGOWAN : I fail to see the point of the member’s question. On the morning that I announced that the government would no longer proceed with the EPP, the member for Capel said to me, “Congratulations, minister; great decision. I will have to put out a press release congratulating you on this.” By that afternoon, there was a press release stating that I should apologise. The spin doctors in the Leader of the Opposition’s office got to him and rolled him on this issue. The government decided not to proceed with the policy for all the reasons I expressed in my short ministerial statement. It was very clear. The government believes that the wetlands are appropriately protected by existing laws and measures, and that will continue. Shortly before I made the decision, I considered the issue of the Amarillo development. The wetlands within the proposed Amarillo development as presented on the plan would be in public open space in any event. Some of the other wetlands in the area are already protected by the 1990 lakes environmental protection policy. That is the answer to that question. The EPP would have had no impact on Amarillo in any event. I am unaware of any request that the member has made for documents. I do not follow the requests of the member for Capel very closely.
The SPEAKER : Order, members! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : It may be time for the minister to actually answer the question. Mr M. McGOWAN : I did mean it. I thank the member for Capel for the flowers; they were very nice. The member for Capel asked me about the wetlands environmental protection policy. The government made a decision to not proceed with that policy and that decision was supported by the member for Capel. Does he support that decision? Dr S.C. Thomas : Yes, I do. Mr M. McGOWAN : I fail to see the point of the member’s question. On the morning that I announced that the government would no longer proceed with the EPP, the member for Capel said to me, “Congratulations, minister; great decision. I will have to put out a press release congratulating you on this.” By that afternoon, there was a press release stating that I should apologise. The spin doctors in the Leader of the Opposition’s office got to him and rolled him on this issue. The government decided not to proceed with the policy for all the reasons I expressed in my short ministerial statement. It was very clear. The government believes that the wetlands are appropriately protected by existing laws and measures, and that will continue. Shortly before I made the decision, I considered the issue of the Amarillo development. The wetlands within the proposed Amarillo development as presented on the plan would be in public open space in any event. Some of the other wetlands in the area are already protected by the 1990 lakes environmental protection policy. That is the answer to that question. The EPP would have had no impact on Amarillo in any event. I am unaware of any request that the member has made for documents. I do not follow the requests of the member for Capel very closely.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : It may be time for the minister to actually answer the question. Mr M. McGOWAN : I did mean it. I thank the member for Capel for the flowers; they were very nice. The member for Capel asked me about the wetlands environmental protection policy. The government made a decision to not proceed with that policy and that decision was supported by the member for Capel. Does he support that decision? Dr S.C. Thomas : Yes, I do. Mr M. McGOWAN : I fail to see the point of the member’s question. On the morning that I announced that the government would no longer proceed with the EPP, the member for Capel said to me, “Congratulations, minister; great decision. I will have to put out a press release congratulating you on this.” By that afternoon, there was a press release stating that I should apologise. The spin doctors in the Leader of the Opposition’s office got to him and rolled him on this issue. The government decided not to proceed with the policy for all the reasons I expressed in my short ministerial statement. It was very clear. The government believes that the wetlands are appropriately protected by existing laws and measures, and that will continue. Shortly before I made the decision, I considered the issue of the Amarillo development. The wetlands within the proposed Amarillo development as presented on the plan would be in public open space in any event. Some of the other wetlands in the area are already protected by the 1990 lakes environmental protection policy. That is the answer to that question. The EPP would have had no impact on Amarillo in any event. I am unaware of any request that the member has made for documents. I do not follow the requests of the member for Capel very closely.
The SPEAKER : It may be time for the minister to actually answer the question. Mr M. McGOWAN : I did mean it. I thank the member for Capel for the flowers; they were very nice. The member for Capel asked me about the wetlands environmental protection policy. The government made a decision to not proceed with that policy and that decision was supported by the member for Capel. Does he support that decision? Dr S.C. Thomas : Yes, I do. Mr M. McGOWAN : I fail to see the point of the member’s question. On the morning that I announced that the government would no longer proceed with the EPP, the member for Capel said to me, “Congratulations, minister; great decision. I will have to put out a press release congratulating you on this.” By that afternoon, there was a press release stating that I should apologise. The spin doctors in the Leader of the Opposition’s office got to him and rolled him on this issue. The government decided not to proceed with the policy for all the reasons I expressed in my short ministerial statement. It was very clear. The government believes that the wetlands are appropriately protected by existing laws and measures, and that will continue. Shortly before I made the decision, I considered the issue of the Amarillo development. The wetlands within the proposed Amarillo development as presented on the plan would be in public open space in any event. Some of the other wetlands in the area are already protected by the 1990 lakes environmental protection policy. That is the answer to that question. The EPP would have had no impact on Amarillo in any event. I am unaware of any request that the member has made for documents. I do not follow the requests of the member for Capel very closely.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I did mean it. I thank the member for Capel for the flowers; they were very nice. The member for Capel asked me about the wetlands environmental protection policy. The government made a decision to not proceed with that policy and that decision was supported by the member for Capel. Does he support that decision? Dr S.C. Thomas : Yes, I do. Mr M. McGOWAN : I fail to see the point of the member’s question. On the morning that I announced that the government would no longer proceed with the EPP, the member for Capel said to me, “Congratulations, minister; great decision. I will have to put out a press release congratulating you on this.” By that afternoon, there was a press release stating that I should apologise. The spin doctors in the Leader of the Opposition’s office got to him and rolled him on this issue. The government decided not to proceed with the policy for all the reasons I expressed in my short ministerial statement. It was very clear. The government believes that the wetlands are appropriately protected by existing laws and measures, and that will continue. Shortly before I made the decision, I considered the issue of the Amarillo development. The wetlands within the proposed Amarillo development as presented on the plan would be in public open space in any event. Some of the other wetlands in the area are already protected by the 1990 lakes environmental protection policy. That is the answer to that question. The EPP would have had no impact on Amarillo in any event. I am unaware of any request that the member has made for documents. I do not follow the requests of the member for Capel very closely.
The member for Capel asked me about the wetlands environmental protection policy. The government made a decision to not proceed with that policy and that decision was supported by the member for Capel. Does he support that decision? Dr S.C. Thomas : Yes, I do. Mr M. McGOWAN : I fail to see the point of the member’s question. On the morning that I announced that the government would no longer proceed with the EPP, the member for Capel said to me, “Congratulations, minister; great decision. I will have to put out a press release congratulating you on this.” By that afternoon, there was a press release stating that I should apologise. The spin doctors in the Leader of the Opposition’s office got to him and rolled him on this issue. The government decided not to proceed with the policy for all the reasons I expressed in my short ministerial statement. It was very clear. The government believes that the wetlands are appropriately protected by existing laws and measures, and that will continue. Shortly before I made the decision, I considered the issue of the Amarillo development. The wetlands within the proposed Amarillo development as presented on the plan would be in public open space in any event. Some of the other wetlands in the area are already protected by the 1990 lakes environmental protection policy. That is the answer to that question. The EPP would have had no impact on Amarillo in any event. I am unaware of any request that the member has made for documents. I do not follow the requests of the member for Capel very closely.
Dr S.C. Thomas : Yes, I do. Mr M. McGOWAN : I fail to see the point of the member’s question. On the morning that I announced that the government would no longer proceed with the EPP, the member for Capel said to me, “Congratulations, minister; great decision. I will have to put out a press release congratulating you on this.” By that afternoon, there was a press release stating that I should apologise. The spin doctors in the Leader of the Opposition’s office got to him and rolled him on this issue. The government decided not to proceed with the policy for all the reasons I expressed in my short ministerial statement. It was very clear. The government believes that the wetlands are appropriately protected by existing laws and measures, and that will continue. Shortly before I made the decision, I considered the issue of the Amarillo development. The wetlands within the proposed Amarillo development as presented on the plan would be in public open space in any event. Some of the other wetlands in the area are already protected by the 1990 lakes environmental protection policy. That is the answer to that question. The EPP would have had no impact on Amarillo in any event. I am unaware of any request that the member has made for documents. I do not follow the requests of the member for Capel very closely.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I fail to see the point of the member’s question. On the morning that I announced that the government would no longer proceed with the EPP, the member for Capel said to me, “Congratulations, minister; great decision. I will have to put out a press release congratulating you on this.” By that afternoon, there was a press release stating that I should apologise. The spin doctors in the Leader of the Opposition’s office got to him and rolled him on this issue. The government decided not to proceed with the policy for all the reasons I expressed in my short ministerial statement. It was very clear. The government believes that the wetlands are appropriately protected by existing laws and measures, and that will continue. Shortly before I made the decision, I considered the issue of the Amarillo development. The wetlands within the proposed Amarillo development as presented on the plan would be in public open space in any event. Some of the other wetlands in the area are already protected by the 1990 lakes environmental protection policy. That is the answer to that question. The EPP would have had no impact on Amarillo in any event. I am unaware of any request that the member has made for documents. I do not follow the requests of the member for Capel very closely.
Shortly before I made the decision, I considered the issue of the Amarillo development. The wetlands within the proposed Amarillo development as presented on the plan would be in public open space in any event. Some of the other wetlands in the area are already protected by the 1990 lakes environmental protection policy. That is the answer to that question. The EPP would have had no impact on Amarillo in any event. I am unaware of any request that the member has made for documents. I do not follow the requests of the member for Capel very closely.
I am unaware of any request that the member has made for documents. I do not follow the requests of the member for Capel very closely.
(1) Was the decision to dump this policy related to the government’s intention to develop the Amarillo site despite this site being severely impacted upon by the proposed policy? (2) When did the minister become aware that I had applied for all environmental documentation related to Amarillo from the department of environment and conversation and the Department of Housing and Works under the freedom of information laws? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr M. McGOWAN replied: (1)-(2) I am unaware of the department of conversation, which is what the member said! I take it that the member meant to say the Department of Environment and Conservation. I thank the member for Capel, who, of course, until recently was the candidate for Forrest. I also put on record my thanks for something else. I celebrated my thirty-ninth birthday during the recent parliamentary break. Lo and behold, on my thirty-ninth birthday a bunch of flowers arrived. I saw from the attached card that they were from the member for Capel, which surprised me somewhat, as I had never received flowers before. Dr S.C. Thomas : What sort of flowers were they? Mr M. McGOWAN : They were arum lilies. Dr S.C. Thomas : They are poisonous. Mr M. McGOWAN : I am very grateful to the member for sending me flowers on my birthday. Members opposite want to be a little aware that if he invites them over on Friday night for a screening of Brokeback Mountain , they might want to think carefully about whether they attend. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : It may be time for the minister to actually answer the question. Mr M. McGOWAN : I did mean it. I thank the member for Capel for the flowers; they were very nice. The member for Capel asked me about the wetlands environmental protection policy. The government made a decision to not proceed with that policy and that decision was supported by the member for Capel. Does he support that decision? Dr S.C. Thomas : Yes, I do. Mr M. McGOWAN : I fail to see the point of the member’s question. On the morning that I announced that the government would no longer proceed with the EPP, the member for Capel said to me, “Congratulations, minister; great decision. I will have to put out a press release congratulating you on this.” By that afternoon, there was a press release stating that I should apologise. The spin doctors in the Leader of the Opposition’s office got to him and rolled him on this issue. The government decided not to proceed with the policy for all the reasons I expressed in my short ministerial statement. It was very clear. The government believes that the wetlands are appropriately protected by existing laws and measures, and that will continue. Shortly before I made the decision, I considered the issue of the Amarillo development. The wetlands within the proposed Amarillo development as presented on the plan would be in public open space in any event. Some of the other wetlands in the area are already protected by the 1990 lakes environmental protection policy. That is the answer to that question. The EPP would have had no impact on Amarillo in any event. I am unaware of any request that the member has made for documents. I do not follow the requests of the member for Capel very closely.
(2) When did the minister become aware that I had applied for all environmental documentation related to Amarillo from the department of environment and conversation and the Department of Housing and Works under the freedom of information laws? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr M. McGOWAN replied: (1)-(2) I am unaware of the department of conversation, which is what the member said! I take it that the member meant to say the Department of Environment and Conservation. I thank the member for Capel, who, of course, until recently was the candidate for Forrest. I also put on record my thanks for something else. I celebrated my thirty-ninth birthday during the recent parliamentary break. Lo and behold, on my thirty-ninth birthday a bunch of flowers arrived. I saw from the attached card that they were from the member for Capel, which surprised me somewhat, as I had never received flowers before. Dr S.C. Thomas : What sort of flowers were they? Mr M. McGOWAN : They were arum lilies. Dr S.C. Thomas : They are poisonous. Mr M. McGOWAN : I am very grateful to the member for sending me flowers on my birthday. Members opposite want to be a little aware that if he invites them over on Friday night for a screening of Brokeback Mountain , they might want to think carefully about whether they attend. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : It may be time for the minister to actually answer the question. Mr M. McGOWAN : I did mean it. I thank the member for Capel for the flowers; they were very nice. The member for Capel asked me about the wetlands environmental protection policy. The government made a decision to not proceed with that policy and that decision was supported by the member for Capel. Does he support that decision? Dr S.C. Thomas : Yes, I do. Mr M. McGOWAN : I fail to see the point of the member’s question. On the morning that I announced that the government would no longer proceed with the EPP, the member for Capel said to me, “Congratulations, minister; great decision. I will have to put out a press release congratulating you on this.” By that afternoon, there was a press release stating that I should apologise. The spin doctors in the Leader of the Opposition’s office got to him and rolled him on this issue. The government decided not to proceed with the policy for all the reasons I expressed in my short ministerial statement. It was very clear. The government believes that the wetlands are appropriately protected by existing laws and measures, and that will continue. Shortly before I made the decision, I considered the issue of the Amarillo development. The wetlands within the proposed Amarillo development as presented on the plan would be in public open space in any event. Some of the other wetlands in the area are already protected by the 1990 lakes environmental protection policy. That is the answer to that question. The EPP would have had no impact on Amarillo in any event. I am unaware of any request that the member has made for documents. I do not follow the requests of the member for Capel very closely.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr M. McGOWAN replied: (1)-(2) I am unaware of the department of conversation, which is what the member said! I take it that the member meant to say the Department of Environment and Conservation. I thank the member for Capel, who, of course, until recently was the candidate for Forrest. I also put on record my thanks for something else. I celebrated my thirty-ninth birthday during the recent parliamentary break. Lo and behold, on my thirty-ninth birthday a bunch of flowers arrived. I saw from the attached card that they were from the member for Capel, which surprised me somewhat, as I had never received flowers before. Dr S.C. Thomas : What sort of flowers were they? Mr M. McGOWAN : They were arum lilies. Dr S.C. Thomas : They are poisonous. Mr M. McGOWAN : I am very grateful to the member for sending me flowers on my birthday. Members opposite want to be a little aware that if he invites them over on Friday night for a screening of Brokeback Mountain , they might want to think carefully about whether they attend. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : It may be time for the minister to actually answer the question. Mr M. McGOWAN : I did mean it. I thank the member for Capel for the flowers; they were very nice. The member for Capel asked me about the wetlands environmental protection policy. The government made a decision to not proceed with that policy and that decision was supported by the member for Capel. Does he support that decision? Dr S.C. Thomas : Yes, I do. Mr M. McGOWAN : I fail to see the point of the member’s question. On the morning that I announced that the government would no longer proceed with the EPP, the member for Capel said to me, “Congratulations, minister; great decision. I will have to put out a press release congratulating you on this.” By that afternoon, there was a press release stating that I should apologise. The spin doctors in the Leader of the Opposition’s office got to him and rolled him on this issue. The government decided not to proceed with the policy for all the reasons I expressed in my short ministerial statement. It was very clear. The government believes that the wetlands are appropriately protected by existing laws and measures, and that will continue. Shortly before I made the decision, I considered the issue of the Amarillo development. The wetlands within the proposed Amarillo development as presented on the plan would be in public open space in any event. Some of the other wetlands in the area are already protected by the 1990 lakes environmental protection policy. That is the answer to that question. The EPP would have had no impact on Amarillo in any event. I am unaware of any request that the member has made for documents. I do not follow the requests of the member for Capel very closely.
The SPEAKER : Order! Mr M. McGOWAN replied: (1)-(2) I am unaware of the department of conversation, which is what the member said! I take it that the member meant to say the Department of Environment and Conservation. I thank the member for Capel, who, of course, until recently was the candidate for Forrest. I also put on record my thanks for something else. I celebrated my thirty-ninth birthday during the recent parliamentary break. Lo and behold, on my thirty-ninth birthday a bunch of flowers arrived. I saw from the attached card that they were from the member for Capel, which surprised me somewhat, as I had never received flowers before. Dr S.C. Thomas : What sort of flowers were they? Mr M. McGOWAN : They were arum lilies. Dr S.C. Thomas : They are poisonous. Mr M. McGOWAN : I am very grateful to the member for sending me flowers on my birthday. Members opposite want to be a little aware that if he invites them over on Friday night for a screening of Brokeback Mountain , they might want to think carefully about whether they attend. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : It may be time for the minister to actually answer the question. Mr M. McGOWAN : I did mean it. I thank the member for Capel for the flowers; they were very nice. The member for Capel asked me about the wetlands environmental protection policy. The government made a decision to not proceed with that policy and that decision was supported by the member for Capel. Does he support that decision? Dr S.C. Thomas : Yes, I do. Mr M. McGOWAN : I fail to see the point of the member’s question. On the morning that I announced that the government would no longer proceed with the EPP, the member for Capel said to me, “Congratulations, minister; great decision. I will have to put out a press release congratulating you on this.” By that afternoon, there was a press release stating that I should apologise. The spin doctors in the Leader of the Opposition’s office got to him and rolled him on this issue. The government decided not to proceed with the policy for all the reasons I expressed in my short ministerial statement. It was very clear. The government believes that the wetlands are appropriately protected by existing laws and measures, and that will continue. Shortly before I made the decision, I considered the issue of the Amarillo development. The wetlands within the proposed Amarillo development as presented on the plan would be in public open space in any event. Some of the other wetlands in the area are already protected by the 1990 lakes environmental protection policy. That is the answer to that question. The EPP would have had no impact on Amarillo in any event. I am unaware of any request that the member has made for documents. I do not follow the requests of the member for Capel very closely.
Mr M. McGOWAN replied: (1)-(2) I am unaware of the department of conversation, which is what the member said! I take it that the member meant to say the Department of Environment and Conservation. I thank the member for Capel, who, of course, until recently was the candidate for Forrest. I also put on record my thanks for something else. I celebrated my thirty-ninth birthday during the recent parliamentary break. Lo and behold, on my thirty-ninth birthday a bunch of flowers arrived. I saw from the attached card that they were from the member for Capel, which surprised me somewhat, as I had never received flowers before. Dr S.C. Thomas : What sort of flowers were they? Mr M. McGOWAN : They were arum lilies. Dr S.C. Thomas : They are poisonous. Mr M. McGOWAN : I am very grateful to the member for sending me flowers on my birthday. Members opposite want to be a little aware that if he invites them over on Friday night for a screening of Brokeback Mountain , they might want to think carefully about whether they attend. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : It may be time for the minister to actually answer the question. Mr M. McGOWAN : I did mean it. I thank the member for Capel for the flowers; they were very nice. The member for Capel asked me about the wetlands environmental protection policy. The government made a decision to not proceed with that policy and that decision was supported by the member for Capel. Does he support that decision? Dr S.C. Thomas : Yes, I do. Mr M. McGOWAN : I fail to see the point of the member’s question. On the morning that I announced that the government would no longer proceed with the EPP, the member for Capel said to me, “Congratulations, minister; great decision. I will have to put out a press release congratulating you on this.” By that afternoon, there was a press release stating that I should apologise. The spin doctors in the Leader of the Opposition’s office got to him and rolled him on this issue. The government decided not to proceed with the policy for all the reasons I expressed in my short ministerial statement. It was very clear. The government believes that the wetlands are appropriately protected by existing laws and measures, and that will continue. Shortly before I made the decision, I considered the issue of the Amarillo development. The wetlands within the proposed Amarillo development as presented on the plan would be in public open space in any event. Some of the other wetlands in the area are already protected by the 1990 lakes environmental protection policy. That is the answer to that question. The EPP would have had no impact on Amarillo in any event. I am unaware of any request that the member has made for documents. I do not follow the requests of the member for Capel very closely.
(1)-(2) I am unaware of the department of conversation, which is what the member said! I take it that the member meant to say the Department of Environment and Conservation. I thank the member for Capel, who, of course, until recently was the candidate for Forrest. I also put on record my thanks for something else. I celebrated my thirty-ninth birthday during the recent parliamentary break. Lo and behold, on my thirty-ninth birthday a bunch of flowers arrived. I saw from the attached card that they were from the member for Capel, which surprised me somewhat, as I had never received flowers before. Dr S.C. Thomas : What sort of flowers were they? Mr M. McGOWAN : They were arum lilies. Dr S.C. Thomas : They are poisonous. Mr M. McGOWAN : I am very grateful to the member for sending me flowers on my birthday. Members opposite want to be a little aware that if he invites them over on Friday night for a screening of Brokeback Mountain , they might want to think carefully about whether they attend. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : It may be time for the minister to actually answer the question. Mr M. McGOWAN : I did mean it. I thank the member for Capel for the flowers; they were very nice. The member for Capel asked me about the wetlands environmental protection policy. The government made a decision to not proceed with that policy and that decision was supported by the member for Capel. Does he support that decision? Dr S.C. Thomas : Yes, I do. Mr M. McGOWAN : I fail to see the point of the member’s question. On the morning that I announced that the government would no longer proceed with the EPP, the member for Capel said to me, “Congratulations, minister; great decision. I will have to put out a press release congratulating you on this.” By that afternoon, there was a press release stating that I should apologise. The spin doctors in the Leader of the Opposition’s office got to him and rolled him on this issue. The government decided not to proceed with the policy for all the reasons I expressed in my short ministerial statement. It was very clear. The government believes that the wetlands are appropriately protected by existing laws and measures, and that will continue. Shortly before I made the decision, I considered the issue of the Amarillo development. The wetlands within the proposed Amarillo development as presented on the plan would be in public open space in any event. Some of the other wetlands in the area are already protected by the 1990 lakes environmental protection policy. That is the answer to that question. The EPP would have had no impact on Amarillo in any event. I am unaware of any request that the member has made for documents. I do not follow the requests of the member for Capel very closely.
Dr S.C. Thomas : What sort of flowers were they? Mr M. McGOWAN : They were arum lilies. Dr S.C. Thomas : They are poisonous. Mr M. McGOWAN : I am very grateful to the member for sending me flowers on my birthday. Members opposite want to be a little aware that if he invites them over on Friday night for a screening of Brokeback Mountain , they might want to think carefully about whether they attend. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : It may be time for the minister to actually answer the question. Mr M. McGOWAN : I did mean it. I thank the member for Capel for the flowers; they were very nice. The member for Capel asked me about the wetlands environmental protection policy. The government made a decision to not proceed with that policy and that decision was supported by the member for Capel. Does he support that decision? Dr S.C. Thomas : Yes, I do. Mr M. McGOWAN : I fail to see the point of the member’s question. On the morning that I announced that the government would no longer proceed with the EPP, the member for Capel said to me, “Congratulations, minister; great decision. I will have to put out a press release congratulating you on this.” By that afternoon, there was a press release stating that I should apologise. The spin doctors in the Leader of the Opposition’s office got to him and rolled him on this issue. The government decided not to proceed with the policy for all the reasons I expressed in my short ministerial statement. It was very clear. The government believes that the wetlands are appropriately protected by existing laws and measures, and that will continue. Shortly before I made the decision, I considered the issue of the Amarillo development. The wetlands within the proposed Amarillo development as presented on the plan would be in public open space in any event. Some of the other wetlands in the area are already protected by the 1990 lakes environmental protection policy. That is the answer to that question. The EPP would have had no impact on Amarillo in any event. I am unaware of any request that the member has made for documents. I do not follow the requests of the member for Capel very closely.
Mr M. McGOWAN : They were arum lilies. Dr S.C. Thomas : They are poisonous. Mr M. McGOWAN : I am very grateful to the member for sending me flowers on my birthday. Members opposite want to be a little aware that if he invites them over on Friday night for a screening of Brokeback Mountain , they might want to think carefully about whether they attend. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : It may be time for the minister to actually answer the question. Mr M. McGOWAN : I did mean it. I thank the member for Capel for the flowers; they were very nice. The member for Capel asked me about the wetlands environmental protection policy. The government made a decision to not proceed with that policy and that decision was supported by the member for Capel. Does he support that decision? Dr S.C. Thomas : Yes, I do. Mr M. McGOWAN : I fail to see the point of the member’s question. On the morning that I announced that the government would no longer proceed with the EPP, the member for Capel said to me, “Congratulations, minister; great decision. I will have to put out a press release congratulating you on this.” By that afternoon, there was a press release stating that I should apologise. The spin doctors in the Leader of the Opposition’s office got to him and rolled him on this issue. The government decided not to proceed with the policy for all the reasons I expressed in my short ministerial statement. It was very clear. The government believes that the wetlands are appropriately protected by existing laws and measures, and that will continue. Shortly before I made the decision, I considered the issue of the Amarillo development. The wetlands within the proposed Amarillo development as presented on the plan would be in public open space in any event. Some of the other wetlands in the area are already protected by the 1990 lakes environmental protection policy. That is the answer to that question. The EPP would have had no impact on Amarillo in any event. I am unaware of any request that the member has made for documents. I do not follow the requests of the member for Capel very closely.
Dr S.C. Thomas : They are poisonous. Mr M. McGOWAN : I am very grateful to the member for sending me flowers on my birthday. Members opposite want to be a little aware that if he invites them over on Friday night for a screening of Brokeback Mountain , they might want to think carefully about whether they attend. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : It may be time for the minister to actually answer the question. Mr M. McGOWAN : I did mean it. I thank the member for Capel for the flowers; they were very nice. The member for Capel asked me about the wetlands environmental protection policy. The government made a decision to not proceed with that policy and that decision was supported by the member for Capel. Does he support that decision? Dr S.C. Thomas : Yes, I do. Mr M. McGOWAN : I fail to see the point of the member’s question. On the morning that I announced that the government would no longer proceed with the EPP, the member for Capel said to me, “Congratulations, minister; great decision. I will have to put out a press release congratulating you on this.” By that afternoon, there was a press release stating that I should apologise. The spin doctors in the Leader of the Opposition’s office got to him and rolled him on this issue. The government decided not to proceed with the policy for all the reasons I expressed in my short ministerial statement. It was very clear. The government believes that the wetlands are appropriately protected by existing laws and measures, and that will continue. Shortly before I made the decision, I considered the issue of the Amarillo development. The wetlands within the proposed Amarillo development as presented on the plan would be in public open space in any event. Some of the other wetlands in the area are already protected by the 1990 lakes environmental protection policy. That is the answer to that question. The EPP would have had no impact on Amarillo in any event. I am unaware of any request that the member has made for documents. I do not follow the requests of the member for Capel very closely.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I am very grateful to the member for sending me flowers on my birthday. Members opposite want to be a little aware that if he invites them over on Friday night for a screening of Brokeback Mountain , they might want to think carefully about whether they attend. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : It may be time for the minister to actually answer the question. Mr M. McGOWAN : I did mean it. I thank the member for Capel for the flowers; they were very nice. The member for Capel asked me about the wetlands environmental protection policy. The government made a decision to not proceed with that policy and that decision was supported by the member for Capel. Does he support that decision? Dr S.C. Thomas : Yes, I do. Mr M. McGOWAN : I fail to see the point of the member’s question. On the morning that I announced that the government would no longer proceed with the EPP, the member for Capel said to me, “Congratulations, minister; great decision. I will have to put out a press release congratulating you on this.” By that afternoon, there was a press release stating that I should apologise. The spin doctors in the Leader of the Opposition’s office got to him and rolled him on this issue. The government decided not to proceed with the policy for all the reasons I expressed in my short ministerial statement. It was very clear. The government believes that the wetlands are appropriately protected by existing laws and measures, and that will continue. Shortly before I made the decision, I considered the issue of the Amarillo development. The wetlands within the proposed Amarillo development as presented on the plan would be in public open space in any event. Some of the other wetlands in the area are already protected by the 1990 lakes environmental protection policy. That is the answer to that question. The EPP would have had no impact on Amarillo in any event. I am unaware of any request that the member has made for documents. I do not follow the requests of the member for Capel very closely.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : It may be time for the minister to actually answer the question. Mr M. McGOWAN : I did mean it. I thank the member for Capel for the flowers; they were very nice. The member for Capel asked me about the wetlands environmental protection policy. The government made a decision to not proceed with that policy and that decision was supported by the member for Capel. Does he support that decision? Dr S.C. Thomas : Yes, I do. Mr M. McGOWAN : I fail to see the point of the member’s question. On the morning that I announced that the government would no longer proceed with the EPP, the member for Capel said to me, “Congratulations, minister; great decision. I will have to put out a press release congratulating you on this.” By that afternoon, there was a press release stating that I should apologise. The spin doctors in the Leader of the Opposition’s office got to him and rolled him on this issue. The government decided not to proceed with the policy for all the reasons I expressed in my short ministerial statement. It was very clear. The government believes that the wetlands are appropriately protected by existing laws and measures, and that will continue. Shortly before I made the decision, I considered the issue of the Amarillo development. The wetlands within the proposed Amarillo development as presented on the plan would be in public open space in any event. Some of the other wetlands in the area are already protected by the 1990 lakes environmental protection policy. That is the answer to that question. The EPP would have had no impact on Amarillo in any event. I am unaware of any request that the member has made for documents. I do not follow the requests of the member for Capel very closely.
The SPEAKER : Order, members! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : It may be time for the minister to actually answer the question. Mr M. McGOWAN : I did mean it. I thank the member for Capel for the flowers; they were very nice. The member for Capel asked me about the wetlands environmental protection policy. The government made a decision to not proceed with that policy and that decision was supported by the member for Capel. Does he support that decision? Dr S.C. Thomas : Yes, I do. Mr M. McGOWAN : I fail to see the point of the member’s question. On the morning that I announced that the government would no longer proceed with the EPP, the member for Capel said to me, “Congratulations, minister; great decision. I will have to put out a press release congratulating you on this.” By that afternoon, there was a press release stating that I should apologise. The spin doctors in the Leader of the Opposition’s office got to him and rolled him on this issue. The government decided not to proceed with the policy for all the reasons I expressed in my short ministerial statement. It was very clear. The government believes that the wetlands are appropriately protected by existing laws and measures, and that will continue. Shortly before I made the decision, I considered the issue of the Amarillo development. The wetlands within the proposed Amarillo development as presented on the plan would be in public open space in any event. Some of the other wetlands in the area are already protected by the 1990 lakes environmental protection policy. That is the answer to that question. The EPP would have had no impact on Amarillo in any event. I am unaware of any request that the member has made for documents. I do not follow the requests of the member for Capel very closely.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : It may be time for the minister to actually answer the question. Mr M. McGOWAN : I did mean it. I thank the member for Capel for the flowers; they were very nice. The member for Capel asked me about the wetlands environmental protection policy. The government made a decision to not proceed with that policy and that decision was supported by the member for Capel. Does he support that decision? Dr S.C. Thomas : Yes, I do. Mr M. McGOWAN : I fail to see the point of the member’s question. On the morning that I announced that the government would no longer proceed with the EPP, the member for Capel said to me, “Congratulations, minister; great decision. I will have to put out a press release congratulating you on this.” By that afternoon, there was a press release stating that I should apologise. The spin doctors in the Leader of the Opposition’s office got to him and rolled him on this issue. The government decided not to proceed with the policy for all the reasons I expressed in my short ministerial statement. It was very clear. The government believes that the wetlands are appropriately protected by existing laws and measures, and that will continue. Shortly before I made the decision, I considered the issue of the Amarillo development. The wetlands within the proposed Amarillo development as presented on the plan would be in public open space in any event. Some of the other wetlands in the area are already protected by the 1990 lakes environmental protection policy. That is the answer to that question. The EPP would have had no impact on Amarillo in any event. I am unaware of any request that the member has made for documents. I do not follow the requests of the member for Capel very closely.
The SPEAKER : It may be time for the minister to actually answer the question. Mr M. McGOWAN : I did mean it. I thank the member for Capel for the flowers; they were very nice. The member for Capel asked me about the wetlands environmental protection policy. The government made a decision to not proceed with that policy and that decision was supported by the member for Capel. Does he support that decision? Dr S.C. Thomas : Yes, I do. Mr M. McGOWAN : I fail to see the point of the member’s question. On the morning that I announced that the government would no longer proceed with the EPP, the member for Capel said to me, “Congratulations, minister; great decision. I will have to put out a press release congratulating you on this.” By that afternoon, there was a press release stating that I should apologise. The spin doctors in the Leader of the Opposition’s office got to him and rolled him on this issue. The government decided not to proceed with the policy for all the reasons I expressed in my short ministerial statement. It was very clear. The government believes that the wetlands are appropriately protected by existing laws and measures, and that will continue. Shortly before I made the decision, I considered the issue of the Amarillo development. The wetlands within the proposed Amarillo development as presented on the plan would be in public open space in any event. Some of the other wetlands in the area are already protected by the 1990 lakes environmental protection policy. That is the answer to that question. The EPP would have had no impact on Amarillo in any event. I am unaware of any request that the member has made for documents. I do not follow the requests of the member for Capel very closely.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I did mean it. I thank the member for Capel for the flowers; they were very nice. The member for Capel asked me about the wetlands environmental protection policy. The government made a decision to not proceed with that policy and that decision was supported by the member for Capel. Does he support that decision? Dr S.C. Thomas : Yes, I do. Mr M. McGOWAN : I fail to see the point of the member’s question. On the morning that I announced that the government would no longer proceed with the EPP, the member for Capel said to me, “Congratulations, minister; great decision. I will have to put out a press release congratulating you on this.” By that afternoon, there was a press release stating that I should apologise. The spin doctors in the Leader of the Opposition’s office got to him and rolled him on this issue. The government decided not to proceed with the policy for all the reasons I expressed in my short ministerial statement. It was very clear. The government believes that the wetlands are appropriately protected by existing laws and measures, and that will continue. Shortly before I made the decision, I considered the issue of the Amarillo development. The wetlands within the proposed Amarillo development as presented on the plan would be in public open space in any event. Some of the other wetlands in the area are already protected by the 1990 lakes environmental protection policy. That is the answer to that question. The EPP would have had no impact on Amarillo in any event. I am unaware of any request that the member has made for documents. I do not follow the requests of the member for Capel very closely.
The member for Capel asked me about the wetlands environmental protection policy. The government made a decision to not proceed with that policy and that decision was supported by the member for Capel. Does he support that decision? Dr S.C. Thomas : Yes, I do. Mr M. McGOWAN : I fail to see the point of the member’s question. On the morning that I announced that the government would no longer proceed with the EPP, the member for Capel said to me, “Congratulations, minister; great decision. I will have to put out a press release congratulating you on this.” By that afternoon, there was a press release stating that I should apologise. The spin doctors in the Leader of the Opposition’s office got to him and rolled him on this issue. The government decided not to proceed with the policy for all the reasons I expressed in my short ministerial statement. It was very clear. The government believes that the wetlands are appropriately protected by existing laws and measures, and that will continue. Shortly before I made the decision, I considered the issue of the Amarillo development. The wetlands within the proposed Amarillo development as presented on the plan would be in public open space in any event. Some of the other wetlands in the area are already protected by the 1990 lakes environmental protection policy. That is the answer to that question. The EPP would have had no impact on Amarillo in any event. I am unaware of any request that the member has made for documents. I do not follow the requests of the member for Capel very closely.
Dr S.C. Thomas : Yes, I do. Mr M. McGOWAN : I fail to see the point of the member’s question. On the morning that I announced that the government would no longer proceed with the EPP, the member for Capel said to me, “Congratulations, minister; great decision. I will have to put out a press release congratulating you on this.” By that afternoon, there was a press release stating that I should apologise. The spin doctors in the Leader of the Opposition’s office got to him and rolled him on this issue. The government decided not to proceed with the policy for all the reasons I expressed in my short ministerial statement. It was very clear. The government believes that the wetlands are appropriately protected by existing laws and measures, and that will continue. Shortly before I made the decision, I considered the issue of the Amarillo development. The wetlands within the proposed Amarillo development as presented on the plan would be in public open space in any event. Some of the other wetlands in the area are already protected by the 1990 lakes environmental protection policy. That is the answer to that question. The EPP would have had no impact on Amarillo in any event. I am unaware of any request that the member has made for documents. I do not follow the requests of the member for Capel very closely.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I fail to see the point of the member’s question. On the morning that I announced that the government would no longer proceed with the EPP, the member for Capel said to me, “Congratulations, minister; great decision. I will have to put out a press release congratulating you on this.” By that afternoon, there was a press release stating that I should apologise. The spin doctors in the Leader of the Opposition’s office got to him and rolled him on this issue. The government decided not to proceed with the policy for all the reasons I expressed in my short ministerial statement. It was very clear. The government believes that the wetlands are appropriately protected by existing laws and measures, and that will continue. Shortly before I made the decision, I considered the issue of the Amarillo development. The wetlands within the proposed Amarillo development as presented on the plan would be in public open space in any event. Some of the other wetlands in the area are already protected by the 1990 lakes environmental protection policy. That is the answer to that question. The EPP would have had no impact on Amarillo in any event. I am unaware of any request that the member has made for documents. I do not follow the requests of the member for Capel very closely.
Shortly before I made the decision, I considered the issue of the Amarillo development. The wetlands within the proposed Amarillo development as presented on the plan would be in public open space in any event. Some of the other wetlands in the area are already protected by the 1990 lakes environmental protection policy. That is the answer to that question. The EPP would have had no impact on Amarillo in any event. I am unaware of any request that the member has made for documents. I do not follow the requests of the member for Capel very closely.
I am unaware of any request that the member has made for documents. I do not follow the requests of the member for Capel very closely.
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