Transport committee  First, let me state that I think there's a problem with the efficiency of pilotage. Cost is one of the things included in efficiency, but there's also the service aspect. Second, you're right that the cost of pilotage is pretty well the same all over the world, because pilots are organized as private cartels throughout the world.

Transport committee  That's a good question. Pilotage is regional anyway. There are four authorities across the country: the west coast, the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence River—

Transport committee  No, I like the idea of, at least at the start, merging the GLPA and the LPA. I think that would be a good start. Mr. Marc Grégoire submitted a report on pilotage to the minister. I think he had some 39 recommendations. We'd like to see all of those recommendations go through and the Pilotage Act amended.

Transport committee  I think there needs to be a more defined strategy for the trade corridors. I don't know of any.... Karen, is there any—

Transport committee  I'm in Montreal. We have offices in Montreal and Vancouver.

Transport committee  Thank you, Madam Chair and committee members, for seeing us today. Karen and I are here on behalf of the Shipping Federation of Canada, which was established by an act of Parliament in 1903. We are the trade association representing the owners, operators and agents of the ocean ships that carry Canada's imports and exports to and from world markets, including some of Ray's grain.

Environment committee  I'd prefer it to be set aside, but if it has to go through, those are the amendments we would propose.

Environment committee  Me too. The two amendments we are proposing are in our brief.

Environment committee  It's what's in our brief. Basically, we propose two amendments.

Environment committee  Well, I'm wondering what the reason behind the bill is. It's my understanding that before any law is enacted under the federal government, people come, they talk about it, they bring opposing views, and then it goes to first reading, second reading, blah, blah, blah, and it goes on to become law.

Environment committee  You know, we're being very simple here.

Environment committee  All we're saying is that if somebody were to bring a civil action against us, because we were following the law we could say we were following the law, that we were following the regulations.

Environment committee  Anne, maybe you might....

Environment committee  I thought just the contrary, that everybody had an opportunity to express their views on any piece of legislation that came about under federal law.

Environment committee  And there's an opportunity under federal law for people to bring forth different opinions too.