Mr. Speaker, this too is an important question. Therefore, I want everyone to understand the nature of the Quarantine Act. It provides the authority to detain persons, goods or conveyances, for example, possibly an airplane, on suspicion that the persons, goods or conveyances might introduce a dangerous communicable disease in Canada.
The authority under the act permits us to hold any individual, for example, for up to 48 hours to undertake medical examination. If detention is required beyond that period, we must present evidence for a continuation of the detention.
We are working very effectively with local health authorities. At this point we do not think it is necessary to invoke the Quarantine Act.