Senate passes flawed cluster bomb bill without amendment

admin | Wednesday, December 12th, 2012 | No Comments »

From Mines Action Canada

Mines Action Canada is very disappointed that the Senate of Canada has passed the severely flawed draft implementation legislation on the Convention on Cluster Munitions, Bill S-10, without amendment. It is now up to the House of Commons to review the legislation and amend it to protect not only the spirit and the intent of the Convention, but also to protect innocent lives and Canada’s reputation as a protector of civilians in armed conflict.
The Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade heard from numerous expert witnesses from Canada and around the world who pointed out many significant flaws in the legislation and suggested a variety of ways to strengthen the Bill. Despite amendments being proposed in both the Committee and during Third Reading, the Senate voted to maintain the flaws in the legislation and send it to the House of Commons unchanged.
“The vote in the Senate means that Canada could have the weakest legislation in the world unless MPs are willing to make some much needed amendments. As a country that has never used or produced cluster munitions, Canada can and should have the best legislation in the world. Mines Action Canada and its colleagues in the Cluster Munition Coalition hope that all Members of the House will work to ensure that Canada is a leader in protecting civilians, as well as ,ensuring that no Canadian will ever use this banned weapon for any reason, anywhere, at any time, for anyone” said Paul Hannon, Executive Director.
As the legislation moves into the House of Commons, citizens across Canada and cluster munition victims around the world call on Members of Parliament to ensure that the legislation lives up to the spirit and purpose of the Convention on Cluster Munitions which is to end for all time the suffering caused by cluster munitions.

Ottawa: Mines Action Canada is very disappointed that the Senate of Canada has passed the severely flawed draft implementation legislation on the Convention on Cluster Munitions, Bill S-10, without amendment. It is now up to the House of Commons to review the legislation and amend it to protect not only the spirit and the intent of the Convention, but also to protect innocent lives and Canada’s reputation as a protector of civilians in armed conflict.

The Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade heard from numerous expert witnesses from Canada and around the world who pointed out many significant flaws in the legislation and suggested a variety of ways to strengthen the Bill. Despite amendments being proposed in both the Committee and during Third Reading, the Senate voted to maintain the flaws in the legislation and send it to the House of Commons unchanged.

“The vote in the Senate means that Canada could have the weakest legislation in the world unless MPs are willing to make some much needed amendments. As a country that has never used or produced cluster munitions, Canada can and should have the best legislation in the world. Mines Action Canada and its colleagues in the Cluster Munition Coalition hope that all Members of the House will work to ensure that Canada is a leader in protecting civilians, as well as ,ensuring that no Canadian will ever use this banned weapon for any reason, anywhere, at any time, for anyone” said Paul Hannon, Executive Director.

As the legislation moves into the House of Commons, citizens across Canada and cluster munition victims around the world call on Members of Parliament to ensure that the legislation lives up to the spirit and purpose of the Convention on Cluster Munitions which is to end for all time the suffering caused by cluster munitions.

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