Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'd like to ask my question to both foreign affairs and DND, if I may, and get an answer from them.
As they say about pregnancy, you're either pregnant or you're not. You're not half-pregnant. In the same way we are either supporters of the convention, which is to ban cluster munitions, or we are not. I don't think there is any in-between.
I'm going to focus on clause 11. For me, clause 11 is logically and morally problematic. One interpretation of it is that it allows the Canadian Forces to advocate and even order cluster munitions-related activities when on joint military operations with states that have not signed the convention. If we allow this bill to pass as it is without amending clause 11—and it's not sufficient to say there are only going to be rare instances where we might have to invoke those exceptions—then I think we're sending our soldiers mixed messages and putting them in a difficult position where they might propose the use of a weapon that is otherwise banned by Canada.
I'd like to hear your views on that, please.