Evidence of meeting #62 for Public Safety and National Security in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site.) The winning word was chair.
A video is available from Parliament.
4:45 p.m.
Liberal
Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE
Mr. Chair, this was a request by the airline association, and because I said what I did at committee, I put it forward.
In the legislation as it's worded now, the fine is $500,000, which does seem fairly substantial for some of the smaller airlines especially. They have suggested that what they would like to see is $250,000. That reduces it to a more reasonable level for some of the smaller airlines in the industry.
I put that forward.
4:50 p.m.
Conservative
4:50 p.m.
Conservative
Roxanne James Conservative Scarborough Centre, ON
Thank you.
This fine is for extremely serious breaches. This would not be a fine that would be applicable to someone who has made an error through no fault of their own. The offence here—possibly I'll get the officials to talk more about why it was set at that amount and what it would apply to—is obviously something that I believe would be willfully done, because of the serious breach and the seriousness of it.
Perhaps the officials can explain that a little better.
4:50 p.m.
Director General, National Security Policy, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
I'll just say that I think the current penalty is prescribed in regulations. It hasn't been updated in a long time.
As you've said, it's important to get the incentives right, given the seriousness of the offence.
4:50 p.m.
Director General, National Security Policy, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
No. In the amendment to the act it's at $500,000. The current one is much lower. I'm not sure....
March 31st, 2015 / 4:50 p.m.
Director General, National Security Policy, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
We'll have to get back to you on that.
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE
What is in this bill, then, is an increase from what the current penalty is.
4:50 p.m.
Director General, National Security Policy, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
That's right.
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE
Can the officials give us any indication of how often that fine has been levied?
4:50 p.m.
Director General, National Security Policy, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
I'm not able to do that. We may be able to find the fine for you; we're just going through the regs.
Again, Transport Canada would have to give you a bit more of the history on how many times that fine has been used.
4:50 p.m.
Senior Counsel, Public Safety Canada, Department of Justice
If I can add to that, though, in answer to the member's question, this is for the most serious offence in the act. That is the offence in proposed section 22, which is wilful obstruction of a person “exercising or performing their powers, duties or functions under this Act”. It's not just a failure to verify somebody's identity at the gate properly. It's wilful obstruction: destroying documents, concealing evidence, and things of that nature.
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
4:50 p.m.
Senior Counsel, Public Safety Canada, Department of Justice
No, but I understand, having been involved in drafting this, that the current fine has not been updated in quite some time.
4:50 p.m.
NDP
Rosane Doré Lefebvre NDP Alfred-Pellan, QC
I had some questions for the officials and they were answered. Thank you.
4:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Daryl Kramp
Thank you.
All in favour?
(Amendment negatived [See Minutes of Proceedings])
We will now go to Green Party-24.
4:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Daryl Kramp
Excuse me. We do have one more Liberal amendment before that.
My apologies, Mr. Easter. I do have you here.
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
4:50 p.m.
Voices
Oh, oh!
