Mr. Speaker, last year the Canadian government sponsored four UN workshops on issues of firearms ownership. Canadian bureaucrats chaired those meetings. As an elected member of parliament representing Canadians, I requested observer status at the UN meetings. However, the Minister of Foreign Affairs repeatedly denied my access.
Those UN workshops culminated in a seminar in New York last week. The seminar was sponsored by Canada. Once again Canadian bureaucrats participated. Much to the surprise of the foreign affairs minister, I was present not as a Canadian but as an Australian.
Next on the UN agenda is a small arms convention.
Given that more UN meetings are planned for the future, the minister should reconsider his decision to handcuff Canadian MPs and grant observer status to those of us wanting to attend. Canadian MPs should not have to continue to go as Australians in order to monitor the activities of this government's bureaucrats.