Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP navigates private members bill into legislation

Nathan Cullen can take a bow, the MP for the Northwest Skeena riding has accomplished something that rarely happens in that partisan pit of parliamentary debate in Ottawa. He has successfully navigated a private members bill into second reading status in the House of Commons. Cullens' office released the news on his website on November 1st, with a media release with all the particulars.

The private members bill is normally the thing of lost causes; it’s never the high profile legislative thing of Mike Duffy Live or Don Newman’s Politics. You rarely hear of the bill being introduced let alone debated and eventually turned into legislation. So for Cullen, his efforts in aid of banning three dangerous commercials in consumer products might have seemed like a non starter. But with a bit of tenacity and a good measure of support, last Tuesday Cullen watched as his bill C-307 worked its way through the parliamentary system.

Considering the atmosphere of our national house these days, a minority government with each party jealously staking out its turf, finding all party support speaks a good bit about Cullen’s personality in Ottawa and the respect he seems to have received from his peers on the parliamentary benches.

The Daily News reported on the story in its Friday edition.

CULLEN JUBILANT AS BILL PASSES VOTE
The Daily News
Friday, November 3, 2006
Page One

Dangerous chemicals can have a lasting negative effect on the health of young children, so Skeena-Bulkley MP Nathan Cullen decided to try and do something about it.

And it appears he was successful, as Tuesday night, Cullen’s private members bill banning the use of three dangerous chemicals in consumer products received unanimous all-party support in parliament at a second reading.

It is very rare for a private members bill to receive full support, but that was the case Halloween night.

“The evidence is conclusive on the effects of these chemicals on Canadians, and in particular, young Canadians who cannot make choices for themselves,” said Cullen.

The phthalate chemicals, commonly used in various children’s toys, child care articles and cosmetics are know to cause drastic averse effects on the reproductive development of fetal, infant and young boys.

Bill C-307, which also hopes to amend the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, was then referred to the House of Commons’ Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development for consideration.

The debate that ensued regarding Cullen’s bill questioned the nature of federal environmental protection, which currently places the burden of proof on government or citizens to prove a chemical is unsafe, as opposed to placing the onus on companies to prove marketplace safety.”

“This bill changes that story,” said Cullen, who happens to be the NDP’s environment critic.

“It is based on the precautionary principle, which is used around the world, but not yet in Canada.”

Ensuring the safety and health of Canadians should be a priority, said Cullen.

“It is the responsibility of government to keep Canadians safe, to keep harmful elements away from us, particularly when they are of such a complicated nature as these chemicals.” he said.