Transport Committee on May 14th, 2019

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Is everyone in favour of adopting the proposed budget?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Turning to Bill C-97, we have some amendments proposed by Ms. Block and Mr. Aubin. I suggest we start with the first one, with Ms. Block.

Ms. Block, would you like to speak to your proposed amendment?

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK]

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I just want to clarify that I do not need to read the amendment into the record.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

No, you do not.

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK]

This first amendment, 10466469, relates to the Shipping Federation's proposal to amend the purpose and principles clause. Witnesses from both the Shipping Federation and the Marine Pilots' Association praised the addition of this section to the Pilotage Act. I believe that this proposal merely enhances the clause's objectives.

Again, I know that we are not the committee that determines any amendments to the bill. I would just want to be able to provide our colleagues on FINA with the opportunity to look at this amendment more closely, with a view to adopting it, if that is their will.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Is there any discussion?

All those in favour of the amendment proposed by Ms. Block? Opposed?

It does not carry.

Ms. Block, would you like to speak to the second one?

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK]

I will.

The next three amendments that I have proposed speak to a particular recommendation that was made, again by the Shipping Federation of Canada, and it's in their brief. There are three amendments, but that was the way the clerk advised us to handle the amendments to this part of the bill.

I know you probably want to vote on each one separately, but I'll speak to all of them at the same time because I would provide the same rationale.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

That's fine.

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK]

All of the proposed amendments were derived from suggestions contained in the Shipping Federation of Canada's brief. The three amendments that we're looking at right now—amendments 10467101, 10467125 and 10471823—are all related to the organization's objection to the transfer of the full cost of administering the legislation to the private sector.

In their brief, they stated, “In our opinion, this proposed amendment raises a series of public policy questions regarding the role of government and the implementation of cost recovery.”

I think the least we could do is recommend, again to our colleagues on the finance committee, that they consider these amendments that were put forward by the Shipping Federation of Canada.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Is there discussion?

Would you like individual votes, or can we vote on all three at the same time?

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK]

However it is most appropriate to handle them.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Do we have unanimous consent to group the three remaining amendments by Ms. Block?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

All right.

All those in favour of the three amendments that Ms. Block has moved? Opposed?

They do not carry.

We have an amendment from Monsieur Aubin.

Monsieur Aubin, would you like to speak to your proposed amendment, please?

[Robert Aubin, NDP, Trois-Rivières, QC]

Yes. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Although I have few illusions about the outcome of the vote, I will express my opinion. Many witnesses have spoken about the part they would like us to eliminate from this omnibus bill. We were given the example of NAV CANADA several times, but no one was able to demonstrate that there was a real parallel there. I think that the funding of the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority, CATSA, is the main problem with respect to security measures. If the security service is used as a cash cow by the government because the funds collected on passenger tickets do not translate into safety measures, the problem will not be solved by this new proposal.

As for the delays, several stakeholders say that this bill should, at the very least, provide the possibility of going forward independently, in the context of longer term planning, so that all of the stakeholders may not only better contribute, but also adjust to the situation. In short, for a host of reasons, I don't understand why such an important measure is being slipped into an omnibus bill.

I simply move that it be withdrawn and that the measure be the subject of an independent bill in the next Parliament.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Thank you, Monsieur Aubin.

Mr. Liepert.

[Ron Liepert, Conservative, Calgary Signal Hill, AB]

I would like to support this motion, but not for any reason that the intent isn't right as I think we all agree that with regard to the intent, long-term viability and customer service, this is the right move. What seems to be lacking is, why the big rush? Why drive this through as part of an omnibus budget bill, which, of course, this government said it would not use?

It seems like this is something that is important enough that it probably should be looked at as stand-alone legislation outside of the budget bill. It's for that reason that we would support the amendment put forward by Mr. Aubin.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Okay, thank you.

Is there any further discussion?

All those in favour of the motion put forward by Mr. Aubin? Opposed?

It does not carry.

The clerk will now need to respond to FINA that we have looked at the clauses that were recommended to us.

Yes, Mr. Badawey.

[Vance Badawey, Liberal, Niagara Centre, ON]

Madam Chair, I have a motion here, if I may.

As this is our last scheduled meeting on the BIA, I would like to suggest that the committee send a letter in response to FINA.

As for the committee's perspective, I propose that you, as chair, simply thank the finance committee for the opportunity to look at divisions 11 and 12 of Bill C-97, inform its members of the hearings we had on this matter and advise that the committee as a whole does not have any recommendations or amendments to propose.

I would also like to remind all members that, if they have any amendments, they can submit them directly to FINA before the established deadline of Friday, May 17, 2019.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Thank you very much.

Is there any discussion?

Ms. Block.

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK]

Madam Chair, obviously, we won't be supporting the motion, because as it is written, it does not reflect what has actually happened at committee here. We will be forwarding a letter to FINA as Conservative members on this committee.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

That's fine.

Is there any further discussion?

(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

Thank you all very much.

I don't believe we have anything else on our schedule at the moment.

Mr. Liepert.

[Ron Liepert, Conservative, Calgary Signal Hill, AB]

I'm sorry, but was it not today that we were going to discuss the letter that you proposed in response to Mr. Kmiec? I thought I saw something where you were going to suggest the committee simply write a letter to Transport Canada outlining what we heard was going to take place versus having the analyst do a report. Did I have a dream?

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

No, but certainly we can do that. We're all very supportive of that initiative moving forward.