Through you, Mr. Chair, I'll assure Mr. Keddy that I have no intention of filibustering. But I do think it's important to put on the record Mr. Bains' comments in regard to a very similar motion that was brought forward and passed by this trade committee.
I'm going to read a few more paragraphs, and then I know that Mr. Laforest has what I believe will be considered a friendly amendment. Hopefully, other members of the committee will want to wade in.
Mr. Bains continued:
During that particular meeting, an individual from Alberta was speaking to the very important subject matter of bulk water. Although he was completely on topic, because the security-prosperity partnership is such a wide ranging initiative, as I...described earlier, the chair--
--not you, Mr. Chair, but the former chair--
--abruptly stopped the meeting and walked out. It was unfortunate that the parliamentary secretary did the same thing--
--not this parliamentary secretary, but a former parliamentary secretary--
--and accompanied him out. I would have expected better of him. It was very disappointing to see that.
Again, speaking of Mr. Bains' comments in the House of Commons, he said:
As I have indicated before, the Liberal Party does not support the bulk water export diversion and commoditization of Canada's water resources. That is our clear-cut position.
That's the Liberal Party position. He said:
I will tell the House why we supported this motion in committee. As I alluded to before, I was very disappointed with the government's behaviour with respect to how it conducted itself in committee by not allowing witnesses to express their thoughts. The idea of committee hearings is to get a wide range of viewpoints on various subject matters, [and this] is one of those key issues that need...to be discussed in committee.
Mr. Bains continued:
I have articulated before the position of the Liberal Party on bulk water, which is very clear. The Liberal Party does not support the bulk water export diversion and commoditization of Canada's water resources, plain and simple.
Mr. Chair, I raised those points from Mr. Bains' comments of May 31, 2007 because the motion before the committee is a replica of the committee's motion that was adopted back in 2007, that was brought to the House and which received support. Of course, it was a Bloc motion, but it received support from the Liberal Party and the NDP.
I'm suggesting that, given that it's World Water Day, it would be very appropriate for this committee to adopt this motion and forward it to the House for discussion, in light of our hearings on AbitibiBowater, and in light of very clear indications from a number of witnesses that the AbitibiBowater compensation does open up in a very wide range the possibility of chapter 11 provisions being used by companies that are seeking compensation for water rights that belong in the public domain.
That is why I brought forward this motion. I certainly hope it receives support from all members of this committee.