Thank you, Mr. Chair.
In essence, what is being recommended here is that the limitation dates be extended. I know from personal experience in assisting families and communities that have dealt with spills that often there are cases where they don't even become aware of it, because there could be a slow leak from a pipeline. There has been a lot of consternation in my province between landmen and farmers about this. I'm simply suggesting that there be a longer time period.
I make a differentiation here by saying “five years from the day on which the loss, damage, or costs and expenses” were actually incurred and “in no case after 10 years from the day on which the release” occurred. There can be a difference between when people are aware of the spill and seek to have it cleaned up, and it occurring and people not even discovering until too late.
In the case of an abandoned pipeline, this states that there be no limitation date, for obvious reasons. One may not be aware for quite some time of the impacts of a spill or a leak or a release of any kind from an abandoned pipeline.