That's not the only problem with amendment G-2, Mr. Chair. Again I stress that I think the preference would be that the government simply allow this to stand aside or withdraw amendment G-2; that would make sense.
It's fair to say there are a number of difficulties with this amendment. One is the definition around a designation that may “not involve high risks” in relation to aviation safety and security. Well, what is a high risk? Is a moderate level of risk or a medium level of risk acceptable? I don't believe it is. To say that this designation does not involve “high risk” in relation to aviation safety and security for me is very much a red flag.
I think to this point in the bill we've been working through it methodically and cooperatively. Not everyone has exactly what they'd like to see in the bill, but we've been trying to push for the highest level of safety and security at all times. Now we have the government amendment being brought forward that changes the definition, reverses it, and refers to a designation as something not involving high risk—I guess accepting anything short of high risk: moderate risk.
Essentially, that is a major problem with this amendment, I think. I'm not sure whether that was considered. Perhaps the government didn't take into consideration all the other amendments we've brought forward to date that have essentially reinforced that high safety standard right through Bill C-6. This reverses that, and I find it disturbing.
The other element, of course, is that the only activities that are excluded would be scheduled air transportation of fare-paying passengers, which means fare-paying passengers who are on unscheduled air transportation obviously could be included. Those are two difficulties within this amendment.
Again, I'm not sure whether, when the government put it forward, they were anticipating or not all of the strengthening in the bill that we've brought forward to date. But very clearly this amendment contradicts the direction we've been heading in as a committee until now.