Elizabeth May: Mr. Speaker, I have a question for my hon. colleague from Rivière-du-Nord.
I find that this bill really limits the minister’s power when it comes to humanitarian circumstances in cases where the best interests of the child are directly involved. The bill provides for a very minor exception in terms of humanitarian circumstances.
Would my colleague agree that there should be more exceptions available to the minister when it comes to exercising his or her powers for humanitarian reasons?
Pierre Dionne Labelle: Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for her question.
Indeed, the bill takes away the minister’s responsibility to examine humanitarian circumstances. I have the impression that this bill takes powers away from the minister that we would like him to have, and gives him powers that we do not want him to have
That is why it needs some work. The opposition will participate in good faith in order to achieve the desired goals and to ensure that this bill does not simply serve as a public relations device so the Conservatives can look good.