Mr. Dewar, thank you for your question.
Would some argue with our position? Of course. That's why the committee is having these hearings. But are they correct in the case they're making? We believe not.
You mention that I modify, that I use words like “could” or “may”. There's a very good reason for that, and that is because the bill isn't in effect. We can't say with certainty what the impact is. All the more reason, then, why I would say to you that the proponents of the bill can't say with certainty that it will achieve the goals that it's designed to achieve, and why precisely we have to be careful as we move ahead that we do so incrementally, in a measured way, based on experience.
You and I have no disagreement in terms of the goals we want to achieve, but where we are deeply concerned is that it is abundantly clear that this bill puts in place a mechanism that encourages people to make unfounded allegations against Canadian companies, allegations that would be detrimental both to the Canadian interest and to the interest of the communities in which—