Environment committee  Mr. Chairman, we haven't prepared a presentation, but we are ready to answer all the questions committee members may have.

Environment committee  Yes, we have.

Environment committee  We certainly have studied that testimony, Mr. Chairman, and we hope we would be able to answer the questions that the members may have.

Environment committee  Yes, Mr. Chairman, Environment Canada can give a little bit more information to the committee regarding the consultations that were done in relation to the bill. That point was raised. Another key point that was raised, I believe, regarded the impact that the bill might or might

Environment committee  Would you like me, Mr. Chairman, to take questions on the issue of consultation or just move to the next point?

Environment committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The third point that Environment Canada could speak on, again with some support from our colleagues at Justice, would be the impacts, if any, of the bill with regard to the civil liability convention and the Marine Liability Act regime. Of course there a

Environment committee  Mr. Chairman, would you like us to start with the Environment Canada issues or the Department of Justice legal issues?

Environment committee  In relation to the issue of consultation, Environment Canada proceeded with the usual practice through the development of Bill C-16, and that included the protection of cabinet confidence. During the development of the bill, Environment Canada did consult internally with other af

Environment committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I do apologize to the members of the committee, as I was expecting questions and didn't prepare a presentation, but I do have some other points. Regarding the question of the shipping industry's economic viability and how Bill C-16 might affect that, we

Environment committee  It is my understanding that we did not contact every shipping organization on March 5. Unfortunately, some shipping organizations didn't find out through the March 5 notice. That is certainly regrettable. In any event, I understand that they did follow up quickly, and they were

Environment committee  We were in touch with the International Ship-Owners Alliance of Canada. Ms. Kaity Stein was here last week. We did contact the Canadian Maritime Law Association on March 5. In relation to the other witnesses, I'll turn it over to Ms. Cosgrove.

Environment committee  Mr. Chairman, I would like to flag to the committee members that the two issues regarding international law.... I am no longer a lawyer, so I'm not going to comment on legal points, but UNCLOS was one convention, and the civil liability convention was the other. I alluded to the

Environment committee  Long after the bill was tabled? Just a day after the bill was tabled.

Environment committee  No, that's right, Mr. Chairman. The bill was developed following the usual process. Cabinet confidence was applied in the development of the bill.

Environment committee  I'm not a lawyer so I can't give a legal opinion. What I can say is that the Department of Justice did fully vet the bill through all stages of development. So we are confident that the Department of Justice did conclude that regarding everything from international obligations, c