Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I appreciate the questions on this. I think everyone on the committee really wants to do the right thing here.
As I see this, the act has been passed. In the implementation of the act, the people who are responsible for doing that have noticed some challenges in that. These amendments are being brought forward to improve the ability of the government to implement quarantine measures when necessary, and that's based on experience.
I think public health officials and the bureaucracy, if you like, are in the best position to make that assessment. That assessment has been made and the recommendations have been brought forward. They're before Parliament, and this committee needs to review them and get on with doing the best thing for the country. This is the best expert testimony that we have, so I'm not sure what the goal of some of the members of the committee is by delaying possible third reading of this bill.
The other question I would have is on the practical application of land conveyances. With air and marine, we have a certain number of international airports and a smaller number of international ports. There must be thousands of land crossings and dozens of ways in which those crossings are utilized. The practicality of dealing with them in the act seems very difficult, though the ability does exist if the risk changes—and this is also very much a risk assessment.
We have learned from experience. SARS is an excellent example, in that the risk from Southeast Asia is far greater than it is from South Dakota or any of the states, so I wonder what the goal of the members is.
I wonder if the witnesses can comment on the discussion that they have heard here, and if there's anything they can add to alleviate the genuine concerns of the members, but also to expedite this. I think you guys have been stymied over two or three federal elections now, so it would be helpful just to get this going. This would be an excellent opportunity to address the concerns that are being raised by the opposition, so I wonder if you guys could just help us out with expediting this.