Thank you, Mr. Chair.
As this is the first time I have appeared before the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, I want to put on the record that although I am here at your invitation, I have found the provisions a more difficult process that doesn't involve rights of participation, so I participate with a small but not personal note of protest, and I appreciate those of you around the table today permitting me to present this amendment. I think these provisions coming up with this new process originated from the Prime Minister's Office since motions simultaneously appeared in front of about 20 committees. This is set to foreclose my ability to put forward substantive amendments at report stage
I apologize for missing my first amendment, part of the problem of coming to multiple committees one after the other.
Quickly, let me just say the provisions that I've put forward in Green Party amendment PV-2 are to take language we find in the convention, because it is very important, as everyone around this table recognizes, that Canada fully support and implement the convention on cluster munitions.
As Mr. Garneau pointed out, it has been eight years and we need the implementing legislation and this is to cover off one of the provisions in the convention. It's found in article 3, paragraph 2. My amendment is to add to clause 6, which would create a new paragraph 6(i) that would ensure that to:
(i) possess, contrary to the undertaking made in accordance with paragraph 2 of Article 3 of the Convention, any stockpile of cluster munitions more than 8 years following the ratification of the Convention was one of the prohibitions.
It is probably likely that such an additional provision isn't necessary when you look at paragraphs 6(a) to 6(h), but it is important to make sure that the implementing legislation of the Parliament of Canada be fully compliant with all articles that are found under the convention itself. It's in that spirit that I offer you an additional paragraph 6(i) to ensure that any stockpile of cluster munitions is eliminated more than eight years following the ratification of the convention.
Thanks, Mr. Chair.