The main consequence would be that Canada would finally be compliant with the convention itself and its obligations. The second result would be that we would be consistent with the position that has been taken by 110 other states parties to the convention. It would be extremely positive.
Now, in terms of effectiveness in combined operations with non-party states, I firmly believe that at the time—and this was 15 years ago—colleagues from the Department of National Defence believed that not having these exceptions would somehow compromise Canada's effectiveness.
We have 15 years of hindsight, and we have seen what legislation has been passed by our NATO allies and others who are like-minded and the fact that not one of them has included in their legislation such provisions. Certainly other countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Germany and others have the same level of concern about interoperability as we do, and it has not compromised their effectiveness nor do I think, in any real sense, has it compromised Canada's.
That's just to say that I don't believe those exceptions have in any way enabled Canada to play a more effective role in combined operations than if they had not been there.
Thank you.