Madam Speaker, I want to say a few words on the bill before us.
We are discussing a bill to amend the Canada Shipping Act, a maritime liability bill, which my party supports. Bill S-4 is part of the Canada Shipping Act reform. Parts of the Canada Shipping Act are old and out of date with today's realities. The NDP believes it is time to modernize the Canada Shipping Act. The revision of the existing limitation of liability for maritime claims is a very important step toward the modernization of this legislation.
With respect to limits for general maritime claims, the existing regime under the Canada Shipping Act is largely based on a 1997 international convention relating to the limitation of liability of owners of seagoing ships or vessels. The limits on liability set out have naturally lost value as a result of inflation over the years. Most maritime nations consider the limits of liability set out in 1957 inadequate. That is understandable since 1957 was more than 40 years ago. Inflation was very high periodically during those years. In the late seventies inflation hit more than 15%.
The 1957 convention was replaced by the 1976 convention on limitation of liability for maritime claims and its 1996 protocol as a global standard for the limitation of liability for maritime claims.
As members from the Reform Party, the Bloc Quebecois and the government have pointed out, these amendments to the Canada Shipping Act implement the provisions of the 1992 protocol to the 1969 convention on civil liability for oil pollution damage and the 1971 convention of the international fund for the compensation of oil pollution damage. We support many aspects of this bill.
The hon. member for Souris—Moose Mountain made a point I agree with. I want to say a few words about the point I agree with for members of the Reform Party. That may seem kind of odd. He is already wondering what this point is.
He made the point that it is very unfortunate that this bill originates not in the House of Commons but in the Senate. The government is introducing more and more legislation from the Senate. I think that is a real affront to democracy. Why should we be debating this piece of legislation which does not originate here?
We are the elected members of Parliament coming from five different parties in the House of Commons. The Senate is not elected, not accountable and not democratic. Its members are there from when they are appointed to the age 75. I think that is a real affront to democracy.
I am shocked by the government across the way introducing more and more legislation from the Senate. Why does the Prime Minister not screw up his courage and put on the order paper a bill to abolish the existing Senate? That is exactly what the Canadian people are asking for.
Senator Thompson is only a catalyst, the tip of the iceberg. He is not the only senator who hardly ever shows up in the Senate. He is not the only Senator who is not elected. None of the senators is elected or accountable. It is a real affront to democracy to have a legislative body in the 20th century, almost the 21st, that is not accountable. It is a hangover from the feudal days of the past and it is about time we abolish that particular Senate.
No wonder some people think this place is a farce. The people are telling us to abolish that unelected place. The people of Canada want their say and they want to speak out. It is about time we, the members of Parliament, said no, enough is enough. We, as members of Parliament, should say we are not going to take it any more, enough is enough. We are going to originate bills in this House through a democratic and transparent process, which is exactly what it should be.
We should just stop right now in protest. Therefore I move:
That this House do now adjourn.