Foreign Affairs committee  That's why you and I are here. We're here to help dispel that myth, because both you and I know it's not true. If you can come up with an example where we have problems, certainly we can take a look at them. Our job is to take the real thing, which is to say Canada is in control of its north.

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you. I really do appreciate the question, because I think part of what we're doing here today, and what this committee is doing, which we are so appreciative of, is actually raising the consciousness of Canadians, and not only of Canadians but of those who are listening to and reading Hansard on these discussions, because we are not alone in this.

Foreign Affairs committee  That is a very good question, and in fact it's something that's been preoccupying successive governments of Canada: how we deal with protection of our north. That is precisely the reason we are so active in the discussions of the International Maritime Organization with respect to developing the standards that shipping will use in all northern, Arctic countries.

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As my colleague mentioned in her introduction, Canada's sovereignty over its lands and waters in the Arctic is long standing and well established. An understanding of the legal framework within which we are working will demonstrate how there are, in reality, few geopolitical tensions in the region.

Foreign Affairs committee  I would just simply point out that the UN Act is really a facilitating flowthrough form of legislation that puts in place the mechanism by which we have to implement a UN Security Council resolution. It really is merely a mechanism for doing that. Do you want to speak to the techniques involved?

Foreign Affairs committee  That's like “any other relevant document”.

Foreign Affairs committee  I'll just refer to your point on clause 4. The first part, the chapeau, does say that the Governor in Council may make the order or regulation only if the Governor in Council is satisfied that (a), (b), and (c) have been met. So there's a certain requirement that you reflect as a government and as the Governor in Council before you act.

Foreign Affairs committee  We seize it in order to freeze it, meaning that we hold it so that it's not removed. But I'd ask my justice colleague to explain how this works.

Foreign Affairs committee  I think the question is a good one. It's not often noted that many countries change their cabinets on a frequent basis. One could look only at Italy in terms of the number of times they've changed. We deal with the government of the day; as long as we consider that government to be our counterpart, how a prime minister organizes his cabinet and who is in it is entirely up to that state.

Foreign Affairs committee  The state can speak through its diplomats. Usually that's done through a diplomatic note to Canada. We would in fact be speaking with that foreign state once they had provided us with a note indicating their wish to have the assistance of Canada. Usually in that note they will indicate the individuals.

Foreign Affairs committee  I would just add that if you take a look at the way the legislation is drafted, there's a delicate balance between the value systems we have as Canadians, which were built over many centuries and which basically prevent governments from arbitrarily removing, without substantial evidence, assets that belong to citizens, meaning that you would go to a judge and that independent authority would sanction that removal, and the need to act quickly in an environment where we have a world that is in turmoil.

Foreign Affairs committee  Yes.

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you. I think the important aspect of this particular clause is first of all to understand that we are being requested by a foreign state that is not in turmoil, as such. We have a state that is engaging in normal activities--it's not a Libya, for instance, which is falling apart--in which case we could have local officials who are functioning in the same way as when our authorities in Canada deal with local authorities in other countries on mutual legal assistance issues.

Status of Women committee  Melanie Bejzyk will respond to that question.

Status of Women committee  Madam Chair, I can certainly speak to you as long as you would like or allow me to on any of the issues you would like on terminology.