IN THE HOUSE ~ Question Period ~ Government still refusing to respond to majority of Canadians' concerns over Nexen bid

Context : Question

Mr. Peter Julian (Burnaby—New Westminster, NDP): Mr. Speaker, there are 18 days left on Nexen and the minister still refuses to respond to Canadians' concerns, including the following. CNOOC's chair was nominated in 2011 by the secretive organization department, confirmed by the Politburo and announced by the central committee. He was also named party secretary for CNOOC at that time.

Does the minister see CNOOC's relation as independent from the state, or will he now admit that Canadians, including many in his own caucus, have legitimate
concerns and agree to hold public consultations?

Hon. Mike Lake (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry, CPC): Mr. Speaker, again the government will always act in the best interests of
Canadians. This transaction will be scrutinized very closely. Of course, the
Investment Canada Act process has provisions to protect national security and I
remind the hon. member that when we introduced the national security provisions
in section 25 in 2009, the NDP voted against them.