Cabotage is something we've examined repeatedly. The issues behind cabotage go beyond transportation. They deal with the ability of workers from one country to work in another country, and thus would implicate the immigration departments of those countries in terms of their allowing that to happen. We are allowing some cabotage through this bill related to marine transportation, and it relates to empty container movements. Right now, an international vessel that brings in containers full, then empties them here, cannot move them between one point in Canada and another point in Canada. They have to be moved either by truck or by rail. This is allowing them to move empty containers from one port to another port by marine vessel, which, in fact, is the most efficient way to do it, not to mention that it's probably the most environmentally efficient way as well. They can then take the containers back to get them refilled. We are allowing that, but in the other modes there are other hurdles that would have to be overcome, including other countries allowing Canada to do the same in their countries, which so far has not been allowed.
On September 11th, 2017. See this statement in context.