Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you all for being with us today.
I think we're living in a kind of “two solitudes” world. We get the airlines and their representatives saying it would be an unmitigated economic disaster if the law is not passed, and they make passing reference to privacy concerns. Then we have the converse: that privacy or human rights are the issue, and there is little reference to the economic side.
What I've been trying to do is think of possible amendments to the bill that would not produce an economic disaster but would, at the same time, address some of the privacy concerns. One of them—and this is in reference to Professor Salter—would go some way in addressing your concerns. If the addition of third countries other than the U.S. to the list—none has asked, I believe, so far—were to require parliamentary approval rather than be done by order in council, I think that would go some way.
Now, having listened to you and Mr. Hasbrouck, I see that there is the issue of the two kinds of data. There is advance passenger information, which is minimal, and there is PNR, or passenger name records, which are extensive. I understand that the bill right now would allow or permit airlines to hand over the PNR data. Am I correct in my understanding?
Also, what would you think if we could somehow amend the bill so as to limit the information transferred to the more minimal advance passenger information?