Evidence of meeting #13 for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was liability.
A recording is available from Parliament.
10:15 a.m.
Capt Stephen Brown
I don't have an opinion on that. I'm not a chemist, I'm a mariner, but there are a few nasty substances out there that are carried in containers today. It's well controlled and well documented, but I wouldn't care to pass an opinion.
10:15 a.m.
Conservative
10:15 a.m.
Conservative
Jeff Watson Conservative Essex, ON
Thank you, Chair.
The requirements for an HNS regime have been the substance of consultations with various stakeholder groups and Bill C-3, therefore, captures the substance of those consultations. Is that fair enough to say?
10:15 a.m.
Capt Stephen Brown
Correct.
10:15 a.m.
Conservative
10:15 a.m.
Vice-President, Shipping Federation of Canada
Yes, actually you know you have different levels of HNS and the liability regime is really the tail of the dog. Marine safety comes first. You want to avoid accidents and incidents, all of that.
Number two is preparedness and response. There is a lot of work that is being done, currently, about developing a preparedness and response regime for HNS, so that's another pillar of a regime.
Bill C-3 addresses the third pillar which is the liability one. There were many consultations under liability things, but there is also consultation, currently, under preparedness and response regime.
10:15 a.m.
Conservative
Jeff Watson Conservative Essex, ON
Right. I guess the thrust of the question is that the elements of Bill C-3 have the foundation of consultation with stakeholders already.
10:15 a.m.
Conservative
Jeff Watson Conservative Essex, ON
If I'm understanding the witnesses today, you're asking the committee, in its consideration of Bill C-3, not to necessarily anticipate or try to prejudge the outcome of consultations around the HNS dialogue that's occurring with the world tanker safety panel. Structural changes to Bill C-3 right now, in anticipation of that, would not be the source of consultation.
Is that a fair assessment, and that structural changes to this bill should be the substance of consultation?
10:15 a.m.
Capt Stephen Brown
I would agree.
10:15 a.m.
Vice-President, Corporate Social Responsibility, Port Metro Vancouver
Agreed.
10:15 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Larry Miller
Thank you very much.
I'd like to thank all of our witnesses for being with us and thanks very much for your contributions to our study.
The meeting is adjourned.