Mr. Speaker, this bill is aimed at giving effect, in Canadian law, to international treaties ratified by Canada. To do so, this bill amends the Carriage by Air Act to implement the Montreal Protocol No. 4 and the Guadalajara Supplementary Convention.
These two international agreements amend and supplement the Warsaw Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules Relating to International Carriage by Air, which establishes the documentary requirements and liability regime for international air transportation.
Montreal Protocol No. 4 simplifies cargo documentation, authorizes its transmission by electronic means, and amends the cargo liability regime. The Guadalajara Supplementary Convention extends the rules of the Warsaw Convention to carriage performed by a carrier other than the one with whom the passenger or shipper entered into a contract.
I agree, this topic is quite dry and technical.
I find it regrettable that the leader of the government is eating an apple in this House. We are not allowed to name the Senate, but what about eating apples in the House? The member for Glengarry—Prescott—Russell is eating an apple.
I would not want to show disrespect for this member. We can see he is looking after his health, and finds it important to eat apples. I would have preferred him not to do so here in this House, for a degree of decorum is required.
In conclusion, Montreal Protocol No. 4, which came into force in June of 1998, took effect in the United States last March 4. In other words, until Canada implements it, American carriers and shippers have an advantage over their Canadian competitors, because they can use the electronic transmission of air waybills for cargo, which is far less costly.
This means that countries applying these international conventions will have a certain advantage over those that do not. This is, therefore, a bill which is in the interests of Canada and Quebec, and one which represents a needed change as commercial exchanges continue to grow.
We would like to point out that these agreements were signed under the auspices of the Montreal based International Civil Aviation Organization.
For all these reasons our party supports this bill, and encourages the government to see that it is passed as quickly as possible, if this can be done.