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For parents there is no greater priority than the safety of their children. We rightly expect the federal government to do its part to ensure Canadians have safe consumer products. This is one reason why our government is moving to update Canada's product safety laws.

We have recently introduced new legislation that will toughen our approach to consumer safety. The new Canada Consumer Product Safety Act and new amendments to the Food and Drugs Act will prevent problems from occurring, target the highest risks and allow the government to respond rapidly when problems do occur.

With this legislation we are devoting new resources to enhance the surveillance of products already on the market. Manufacturers will also be required to report any incidents causing illness or injury within seven days.

Further, the government's ability to respond rapidly to any problems will be enhanced as the new legislation gives the government the power to recall consumer products.

The legislation also proposes tough new fines. For those irresponsible businesses, manufacturers and importers who put Canadian consumers at risk fines will be increased from the current maximum of $5,000 to a new maximum of up to $5 million.

With Budget 2008 our government is investing $113 million for the next two years in support of Canada's Food and Consumer Safety Action Plan. The legislative proposals our government introduced support the objectives of this plan.

When Canadians hear about California spinach infected with E. coli bacteria, children's toys that contain toxic levels of lead, or toothpaste made with the same ingredient found in antifreeze and brake fluid, they have the right to be alarmed. This is why we are taking this extraordinarily tough and thorough new approach to product safety.

I invite you to visit my website at http://www.robmooremp.com to keep up with developments in Ottawa.

* Rob Moore is MP for Fundy Royal. His column appears biweekly in Riverview This Week. To reach him, please e-mail moorer@parl.gc.ca.