Mr. Speaker, I thought the Prime Minister answered the question very well when he said to the hon. member in reply: "I do not think NAFTA has a lot to say about the way we should control that type of problem in Canada". He went on to say: "Sometimes we hear things in committee we do not agree with. Evidently the hon. member did not share that view, and I do not either".
The member should have been satisfied by the Prime Minister's answer. However, I will try and elaborate on it.
First I would state that possible proposals for plain packaging requirements for cigarettes are still under review by the committee. The government awaits the report of the committee with great interest. The committee recommendations would be studied by the government with careful attention to Canada's obligation under NAFTA and under other treaties such as the GATT.
However NAFTA contains provisions allowing exceptions to trade mark rights. NAFTA also includes provisions that recognizes Canada's right to adopt or maintain sanitary measures and standard related measures for the protection of human health. As well, the government will ensure that any measure it chooses to adopt will not only achieve our goal of protecting the health of
Canadians but will also be consistent with our international obligations.
I hope this additional information will be satisfactory to the member.