I hear what the department and the parliamentary secretary are saying about the magnitude of the difference between the others. I appreciate that relative magnitude between what others may feel, “Why am I less important than someone else when it comes to a fine? My industry is suffering.” I can understand they might say that and then ask why they get to have that fine that large. And the fine, if it happens to me, is only this small. I recognize that may pose some difficulties for the government side.
But, unfortunately, we're dealing only with this piece of legislation that talks about this specific opportunity. I guess when you do the other pieces, you can decide, when you do the review, if you want to review the fines up or down, or sideways, whatever you decide to do.
Clearly, we didn't pull the number out of the air. It's been supported, as has been previously stated, by the Province of Saskatchewan. It's been their suggestion that this be the level.
I'm sensitive to what the parliamentary secretary said, for the Minister of Transport, around the difference in the magnitude. I agree that poses some difficulties, for sure. But I think in this particular case, what was trying to be driven by many of us—and I think the reason for actually doing the whole legislation—is that there's a problem in this one particular instance, driven by a grain crisis. That's the reason we're all here tonight, quite frankly. It's not to review the entire system; it's to do something specific to try to alleviate a specific problem.
I think in this particular case, notwithstanding the magnitude is greater.... I truly am sensitive to that. I'm not making a political statement. I agree the magnitude is quite substantive, 10 times as.... It's quite significant. But in this particular case, I think the big stick is actually what we're looking for. Perhaps this is a way of doing it, perhaps not. But that's what we put on offer. Whether that's something the government doesn't want to go to, I understand, but we'd like to see the big stick come out.
Thanks, Mr. Chair.