The Government of Canada, by signing the ratification of the convention, theoretically should stick to the essence of it in all of its articles. Article 1 is very clear. My colleague Amelie, in Geneva, mentioned the relationship between article 1 and article 21.
Our concern is really about clause 11 of the bill and about making some changes there. We believe there are paragraphs within that clause that need to be changed.
First, paragraph 11(1)(b) talks about “expressly requesting the use of a cluster munition, explosive submunition or explosive bomblet”. That doesn't make sense. The “using, acquiring or possessing” that's in paragraph 11(1)(c), right after that, doesn't make sense either. Finally, in paragraph 11(3)(a), “aiding, abetting or counselling” gives the latitude to our soldiers to do that.
I believe that creates an ethical and moral problem for our troops, who have on the one side humanitarian law, and then this clause 11, which sort of permits it.
We're hoping that this can be fixed, and we're hoping that other changes can be included as well.