Transport committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm not a lawyer, so I'll address the issue from a policy point of view. Indeed, what we just heard is a perfect lead-in, because in fact this would create a special right for a special group of claimants. In this case, they are ship suppliers. Mr. Chairman, from the policy point of view, while I understand the objective of protecting ship suppliers, the premise beyond section 129 is in section 128.

Transport committee  Yes. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, for your invitation.

Transport committee  The definition of adventure tourism was not an easy task. It took a while. It took a number of experts that we invited from adventure tourism, both the legal and insurance side, to help us design what you see in clause 9. I think it is true to say every word was carefully measured and weighted.

Transport committee  Yes, I am. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, for allowing me to participate in this manner.

Transport committee  It should be enough for all the claims.

Transport committee  At the moment, where we have legislation today at $500 million per incident, compared to some of the spectacular cases in Europe, it would not be enough to cover the claims of incidents.

Transport committee  Yes.

Transport committee  Yes.

Transport committee  It's the International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds, which is an organization established in London that has the responsibility, under the convention, to administer and pay claims.

Transport committee  Yes.

Transport committee  About $400 million.

Transport committee  Since 1989, when Canada joined, I think we have, up to now, paid close to $40 million in compensation over the years toward the international fund.

Transport committee  It varies so much, depending on whether claims come into the organization in London. I think one of the largest contributions on an annual basis was paid not too long ago, and it was about $8 million in that given year because there was a major incident handled by the international fund.

Transport committee  Yes.

Transport committee  Indeed. If the future experience at the international level involves massive claims that will trigger higher contributions, then of course the contributions paid by Canada by the domestic fund will increase.