moved for leave to introduce Bills C-313, an act respecting the negotiation, approval, tabling and publication of treaties.
Mr. Speaker, the five bills I am introducing today are intended to remedy some serious shortcomings. Their intent is to force the government to table in the House all drafts of international treaties before they are ratified.
As well, their purpose is to force the government to give the public access to the texts of all international treaties to which it is a party.
At this time the government is making international commitments it cannot meet, because the provinces are the ones responsible for their implementation. My intention is to put in place a formal process for consulting the provinces.
I wish to attack the democratic deficit and require the government to hold public consultations before major treaties are signed, as we do before bills are passed, and to obtain the assent of the House of Commons.
I salute my former colleague, Daniel Turp, who was the one behind this bill.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)