Mr. Speaker, 20-20 hindsight is wonderful. However I will take the hon. member back to September 11.
There was a sense of crisis, a sense that Canadians demanded action to improve security at airports. It was not a time for more studies. It was a time for resolute action and leadership to provide security to air travellers and restore the confidence of Canadians in air travel. That is precisely why the government has taken this firm action rather than requiring months of studies as the opposition seems to demand. The time was for action, not studies.
That having been said, in the fall we are committed. The legislation would give the government the right through order in council to reduce the charge. As we have said many times, this is precisely what we would do in the event the revenues appeared to exceed the expenditures.