Madam Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to have a very short intervention in the report stage debate of Bill C-20.
Bill C-20 is an act to amend the Competition Act. The Competition Act is an extremely important act in terms of providing responsible regulation to business. Regulation is needed.
We heard the member for Skeena talk about what an acceptable role for government is in the marketplace. I certainly share his concerns.
What happens with this Group No. 3 amendment, Motion No. 6 in particular which was brought forth by the Bloc is that it really confuses this legislation beyond what is necessary.
Already the Competition Act is complex. This legislation amending the act is complex. Motion No. 6 not only would complicate it more should it pass but it also really would make it more confusing. That is the key here. It would provide improper emphasis in the Competition Act.
This amendment would provide a prohibition against offering a statement, warranty, guarantee of performance, efficacy of length of life and that type of thing about a product unless there is adequate testing done. Should this Bloc amendment pass, it would put the onus on telemarketers to provide testing that of course is the responsibility of the manufacturer. Putting this amendment forth would provide the wrong direction for this legislation.
As well, I would like to point out that section 52 of the act as amended by Bill C-20 is sufficiently broad in order to deal with and include false claims concerning warranties, et cetera. That has been dealt with already.
I believe that this motion is out of place here. It is important to consider the proper role of government. In many cases governments over the past 30 years and probably longer have tried to play an improper role and have become too involved in the marketplace in trying to unreasonably protect consumers.
I have talked to several people who have been suckered in by telemarketing fraud, in some cases by blatantly fraudulent telemarketers. The RCMP in two cases I know of dealt with this. Charges were pressed and the issue was cleared up as well as it could be cleared up. I really feel for the people who have been taken advantage of and I refer to the very elderly.
This is a concern. This is not the way to deal with it. That is important to note.
I will close by saying that I certainly cannot support this group. I believe that the Reform members by and large will not support this amendment, but I would like to add that we will support the bill itself.