Mr. Speaker, thanks to the action of the Canadian government, cruise ships operating casinos may continue to do so until they are within five nautical miles of port.
Previously, they had to shut down casino operations as soon as they entered Canadian territorial waters, or in other words at Anticosti Island.
This amendment to the Criminal Code, which came into effect on March 15, will allow casinos on cruise ships to continue to operate in Canadian waters.
I would point out as well that the ports of Quebec City and Montreal draw some 75,000 cruise ship passengers annually, and they generate tourist revenue of close to $12 million.