Baird keeping open mind on cluster bomb bill but wants critics to hear him out

OTTAWA – Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird says he’s open to hearing from critics of the government’s much-maligned bill that would ratify Canada’s participation in the international treaty to ban deadly cluster bombs.

But Baird made no promises he would back down from a contentious clause that would allow the Canadian Forces to be involved in the use of cluster bombs in joint operations with the United States, which has opted out of the convention.

That so-called interoperability clause has opened Canada to a wide range of criticism from across the globe, including the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Baird commented as the bill was formally moved Friday to a House of Commons committee for further study, after its introduction in the Senate.

But Baird said he also wants his critics to listen to him at the committee, where he plans to give a “better briefing” on his position.

In previous Senate committee testimony, Baird defended the need for Canada to preserve its ability to conduct joint military operations with the U.S.