Could I ask Committee members to refer to clause 28? It has already been passed, but I am assuming that if this amendment goes through, we will also have to amend this clause. The term “urban transit authority” is defined in section 87 of the Act, as amended by clause 28 of Bill C-11. It provides an explanation of what is covered by the term “urban transit authority”. It reads as follows:
“Urban transit authority” means an entity owned or controlled by the federal government or a provincial, municipal or district government that provides commuter services in a metropolitan area.
When the bill was drafted, the legislative intent was to find a fairly general term that would possibly cover any public passenger and urban transit organization. That term covers anything that is owned or controlled by a municipal, federal or provincial government. As defined in the bill, the term “urban transit authority” is not limited to regular urban transportation. It is very broad and basically covers everything controlled by a municipal, federal or provincial government.