Statement made on 26 October 2010 by Senator James Cowan
Hon. James S. Cowan (Leader of the Opposition):
Honourable senators, my question is for the Leader of the Government in the Senate.
Last week, Canadian parents were alarmed to learn that Health Canada tests found dangerous levels of cadmium in children's jewellery. The first articles in the Ottawa Citizen and the Montreal Gazette came out of an access to information request. Those reports said that the tests were conducted by the government "since last fall."
On Friday, it was revealed that this government has known for many months, indeed as far back as 2009, that some children's jewellery had high levels of cadmium, sometimes up to 81 per cent of this dangerous substance. However, this government waited until now to ask the industry to stop selling those pieces of children's jewellery.
When were the tests conducted and why did the leader's government wait until it received an access to information request rather than moving immediately to protect Canadian children?
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