Mr. Speaker, that is a very good point, and it gives me the opportunity to mention one of the recommendations that the NDP made during the study of intellectual property.
The NDP is arguing that customs officers should have the power they need to do their jobs, while respecting civil liberties and following standard procedure. We need to strike a balance. What is more, the Canada Border Services Agency must be given sufficient funding to combat counterfeiting without compromising the other important responsibilities it has in protecting Canadians and defending our border. That is the point we are trying to make.
Canadian industries and Canada's trade partners raised the importance of effectively combatting counterfeiting, but we are wondering whether the Conservatives support that course of action.
We mentioned that Canadian industries need to be innovative. Intellectual property is a direct result of innovation. It involves patenting an idea or an innovation. This protection is important for industries so that they can promote their great ideas and innovate. We know that they are capable of doing so, yet our government is not being innovative. Instead, it is adopting a laissez-faire attitude and failing to plan properly. It is improvising rather than innovating.