Here's what the current national transportation policy says--and this was adopted under the Liberals. It says that:
(b) competition and market forces are, whenever possible, the prime agents in providing viable and effective transportation services,
(c) economic regulation of carriers and modes of transportation occurs only in respect of those services and regions where regulation is necessary to serve the transportation needs of shippers and travellers and that such regulation will not unfairly limit the ability of any carrier or mode of transportation to compete freely with any other carrier or mode of transportation,
(d) transportation is recognized as a key to regional economic development and that commercial viability of transportation links is balanced with regional economic development objectives so that the potential economic strengths of each region may be realized,
So we have a major shift in what exists now and what this intends to do. The amendment is designed to bring it more in keeping with what we have right now, that “competition and market forces are, whenever possible, the prime agents in providing viable and effective transportation services”. So this is a shift if we don't adopt these amendments. It's a significant shift in how transportation policy evolves.
I would disagree with that emphasis. Mr. Scott and I are on the same wavelength, and hopefully the majority of the committee will be, as well.