Thank you, Madam Chair.
First of all, I would like to thank you for introducing your private member's bill. It is greatly appreciated.
The fact that mercury poses a serious problem is nothing new. It has in fact been a priority of the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment for a few years now. Mercury pollution causes many problems. Mercury lamps are one source, but there are also others, such as cement plants and coal combustion plants, which pose very serious problems. Mercury is a neurotoxin with serious effects on the health of adults and children.
I agree with my colleague who just asked you some questions. It seems that your bill could have proposed a much more robust approach, since the federal regime allows for legally binding regulations. I am a bit concerned. Why did you not take that approach? Is the introduction of your private member's bill regarding mercury lamps a way of trying to influence your government by asking what it is doing in other areas, for its part, to ensure that mercury is not circulating in nature?