Thank you for that question, Mr. Iacono.
Yes, indeed, the bill as proposed will extend the existing act that guarantees the decision-making independence of pilots, in the sense that pilots serve the Canadian public. They do not serve shipowners, unlike certificate holders, who might work for a shipowner, for example.
When pilots are carrying out their pilotage tasks, their decisions are free from all commercial pressure. The decisions that pilots make every day on the bridges of Canadian vessels are independent, as guaranteed by the current act and the proposed, amended act. The act guarantees that independence in decision-making, because pilots are not accountable to the captain or the owner of the vessel, or to anyone else. They are accountable to the Canadian public.