Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. This is meeting number 13. The orders of the day are that pursuant to the order of reference of Monday, March 30, 2009, we are considering Bill C-7, An Act to amend the Marine Liability Act and the Federal Courts Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts.
Joining us today from the Canadian Shipowners Association is Mr. Bruce Bowie, president. Joining us from the Canadian Bar Association are Mr. Simon Barker, chair, national maritime law section, and Ms. Kerri Froc, lawyer, legislation and law reform. We welcome you today.
I understand you have been given some directions from Maxime, our clerk, on your time.
Mr. Bowie, please go ahead. Then we'll go to the second presentation and then have questions from committee members. Please begin.