Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of the Environment. I know he referred to this in his speech but perhaps he could clarify it.
Just what is the government's intention with respect to how it plans to live up to the motion passed in the House in February this year having to do with the government placing an immediate moratorium on the export of bulk freshwater shipments and interbasin transfers and, according to the motion, introducing legislation to prohibit bulk freshwater exports and interbasin transfers?
I know the minister has spoken about boundary waters, but this motion actually talked about a national ban, not 10 separate provincial bans which would not be undesirable. At the same that is not the motion that was passed and not the motion the government supported. The motion that was passed called for a national ban on the bulk export of water.
I asked the government House leader today under House business whether there was legislation forthcoming. He said as far as he knew there was. I would like to ask the minister if he could clarify just what we can expect in this regard by way of national legislation, a national ban, because as he knows the provinces, particularly Newfoundland of late—