Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to enter the debate on Bill C-71, an act to amend the Explosives Act.
When I read over the act I notice some very specific benefits for Canada, specifically in the area of vapour detection. Our government is very interested in promoting scientific and technological devices to expand our knowledge base and to increase employment. It is very interesting that Canada is a world leader in this type of technology.
I am very pleased to speak in favour of the bill. I note this is a UN convention. It basically restores our commitment to the United Nations and to other countries to detect plastic explosives and prevent their exportation throughout the world.
There have been a few classic examples of plastic explosives being used by terrorists both in and out of Canada. Many of us can remember the Air India disaster and numerous other cases where terrorists have used plastic explosives and the death and dismemberment of many innocent people has resulted. The bill basically addresses that issue with the objective of detecting and stamping out the use of plastic explosives for that very purpose.
It is necessary that the bill be brought into place to recognize our commitment to the United Nations and to recognize the need to deal with terrorist activities. I note that Canada is also a producer of plastic explosives, but the main consumer of them in Canada is our own military. I understand the Canadian military has approximately a 10-year supply of plastic explosives. I am very happy to see that we have made a provision in the act for a 15-year moratorium to allow the inventory of unmarked plastic explosives to be brought down while the new replacements have this detection device included.
I can remember being in Heathrow International Airport where they use canines and detection devices to control the exportation of firearms and dangerous substances. We have developed a whole technology to do that. The world does that very well. However we must always be on guard for the development of new types technology. Plastic explosives and small component devices can be exported very easily.
In conclusion I support Bill C-71 and the effect it will have in the industrial sector in creating jobs for Canadians.
(Motion agreed to, bill read the third time and passed.)