Mr. Chairman, I think it would be relatively easy to incorporate G-2 into the NDP amendment. Of course, it's up to the government to make that choice.
We propose to add all of the following elements to the proposed paragraph 5(c). I will read you the text of amendment NDP-6:
c) each carrier or mode of transportation, as far as is practicable, carries traffic to or from any point in Canada under fares, rates and conditions that do not constitute: (i) an unfair disadvantage in respect of any such traffic beyond the disadvantage inherent in the location or volume of the traffic, the scale of operation connected with the traffic or the type of traffic or service involved, (ii) an undue obstacle to the mobility of persons, including persons with disabilities, (iii) ) an undue obstacle to the interchange of commodities between points in Canada, (iv) an unreasonable discouragement to the development of primary or secondary industries, to export trade in or from any region of Canada or to the movement of commodities through Canadian ports;
I am proposing this amendment because, in fact, all of these elements are part of the current national transportation policy. These are important elements that cannot be left out of the new policy. That is why, I think, such great care was taken to prepare this new presentation of our national transportation policy. After all, it has repercussions in other areas.
Mr. Chair, I am going to read you what has been in the national transportation policy since 1995-1996. I just have the English text, so I am going to read it in English.
(c) each carrier or mode of transportation, as far as is practicable, carries traffic to or from any point in Canada under fares, rates and conditions that do not constitute
(i) an unfair disadvantage in respect of any such traffic beyond the disadvantage inherent in the location or volume of the traffic, the scale of operation connected with the traffic or the type of traffic or service involved,
(ii) an undue obstacle to the mobility of persons, including persons with disabilities,
(iii) an undue obstacle to the interchange of commodities between points in Canada, or
(iv) an unreasonable discouragement to the development of primary or secondary industries, to export trade in or from any region of Canada or to the movement of commodities through Canadian ports;
What we're proposing here, Mr. Chair, is simply reinforcing this new national transportation policy, saving the most effective elements of what already exists. We believe the current bill, which really only speaks to the issue of “interswitching within Canada or to the movement of goods through Canadian ports”, and also talks about “undue obstacle to the mobility of persons, including persons with disabilities”, is not strong enough. We're hoping to reinforce it by this motion of amendment that is more extensive. As I say, it simply reiterates what is already policy nationally.
That, we believe, is what should be kept.