Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question. This is certainly something positive. However, there are obviously consequences associated with passing a bill like this one. It is somewhat pointless to have agreements between the stakeholders—the producers, the shippers and the railway companies, like CN, in this case—if they do not have the tools to enforce those agreements.
That said, this is to some extent the approach my colleagues will take when they examine the bill in committee and also look at the question of arbitration. We do want shippers to have the tools they need in order to take full advantage of this legislation. It is quite important that CN and CP be called on to make better agreements with shippers. But that may still pose a problem if the legislation and the legal situation tilt too heavily in favour of the railway companies.
My colleague and I have raised two very important points relating to arbitration, to ensure that we enact legislation that has teeth. Once the bill is passed, we are really going to have to make sure that the agreements made are complied with.