Elizabeth May: Mr. Speaker, I am glad to have a chance to speak to the cluster munitions bill again tonight and to put a question for my friend, the hon. parliamentary secretary.
We had a fairly unfortunate debate on a previous occasion in this place where there was what I tend to call a dialogue of the deaf. Some MPs were claiming that because Bill C-6 was very weak, and, in my view, unacceptably weak, the current administration did not care about getting rid of cluster munitions or about the children who had been injured by them. I reject that totally. I know that the hon. member and everyone in the House do not want cluster munitions to be used.
I want to preface my question for the parliamentary secretary by saying that I accept everything he has said. This bill is supposed to implement a cluster munitions treaty, which means that Canada is on record as being opposed to the use of cluster munitions.
My questions are very specific.
First, why has the administration failed to take the steps that should have been taken in this bill, as our other allies have done, to ensure that investment in cluster munitions is specifically prohibited.
Second, when the interoperability sections were created, why was the same language not used as is in the Ottawa land mines treaty bill, which is much more restrictive and does not allow as many loopholes as does the language we find in this legislation?
David Anderson: Mr. Speaker, my colleague has asked a couple of questions and hopefully I have enough time to respond to them.
One reason we do not use the term “investment” is because it is seen as too broad. The convention is written in a particular language and each country then has to put it into the language of its legal system in order to make it fully applicable. The word “investment” is not used because it is a broad term. It would be covered, as I mentioned earlier, under things such as counselling, aiding and abetting. Those are wrapped up in that. We are not permitting people to invest in cluster munitions, and I think the member opposite can be comfortable with that position.
In terms of the Ottawa convention, these are two very different treaties. One of the differences lies, in a practical sense, in the way that the munitions are used tactically in operations. This one is used in a wide variety of situations, typically planned and unplanned. If we had adopted the exact approach of the Ottawa convention, it certainly would have undermined the Canadian Forces’ ability to effectively participate in joint military operations, interoperability and those kinds of things.
We did not believe that we should risk our national security and defence interests. We think this provides a good balance. It provides the leadership that Canada insists we show to the world in wanting to get rid of these munitions. At the same time, it allows us the interoperability that we need with our partners.
Natural Resources Canada has evolved into the Department of Oil and Gas
January 28th, 2019
Report from COP24 in Poland
December 12th, 2018
Elizabeth explains the Federal Court of Appeal ruling on Kinder Morgan
September 4th, 2018
“The difference between a plan and a wish list” (Hill Times)
June 14th, 2018
Opinion: I was arrested for protesting against Canada’s pipeline – and the battle is far from over
May 31st, 2018
Elizabeth May: An Oilsands Bargain that Actually Makes Sense
April 25th, 2018
Elizabeth May celebrates Chinese New Year
February 8th, 2019
Elizabeth May’s Statement on Black History Month
February 8th, 2019
Elizabeth May Statement on Black History Month
February 4th, 2019
Distinguished economists validate Elizabeth May’s economic policy
February 1st, 2019
Elizabeth May’s statement on the situation in Venezuela
February 1st, 2019
Statement on the second anniversary of the Quebec City mosque massacre
February 1st, 2019
Bill S-203, the Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act (also known as the Free Willy Bill)
December 14th, 2018
Bill S-203: The Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act
November 29th, 2018
External review of the critical habitat section of the draft amended recovery strategy for Resident Killer Whales
November 8th, 2018
Elizabeth May’s 2018 Remembrance Day Message
November 6th, 2018
House of Commons Emergency Debate on Climate Change
October 16th, 2018
Constituency Office
1-9711 Fourth St
Sidney, BC V8L 2Y8
Phone: 250-657-2000
800-667-9188
Fax: 250-657-2004
E-mail: elizabeth.may.c1a@parl.gc.ca
Parliament Hill Office
518 Confederation Building
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
Phone: 613-996-1119
Fax: 613-996-0850
E-mail: elizabeth.may@parl.gc.ca
Jobs & Volunteering
Click here for the latest opportunities