Madam Speaker, I appreciate the parliamentary secretary's response, but I am trying to contrast that with the fact that Transport Canada saw fit to allow this exemption over the last six months. The dangers on board a ferry with fire and possible flooding were always there, but we are in a unique public health emergency and we would not be requesting this exemption unless we were facing something significant.
All the experts agree that the second wave of COVID-19 coming this fall could be worse than what we saw in March or April, yet we will not have the ability on BC Ferries to maintain that physical distancing. This is not only about the passengers; it is also about the people whose livelihoods depend on the ferries and have to be there every day.
I ask again for the parliamentary secretary to consider those safety measures and ask him to reconsider Transport Canada's decision so we can keep people safe.