Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Bill C‑281, among other things, seeks to prohibit any person from having a pecuniary interest, directly or indirectly, as a shareholder, partner, or lender, in a business that has violated the prohibitions of the act or has aided or encouraged another person to violate the prohibitions of the act.
So you would legislate to penalize any person having direct or indirect interests in a business which manufactures cluster munitions. Yet is there not a risk that Canadians may have unknowingly invested in such a business and would then be targeted by the provisions of the bill?
Would it not be preferable to use New Zealand's legislation as a model? It focuses on the intent rather than on shareholders or participants having a direct or indirect financial interest in a business which manufactures cluster munitions.