Transport committee  The answer to the second part of your question is “yes”. As a Canadian, I hope that the effect is not to replace pilots.

Transport committee  You analysis of the size of vessels that can sail on the Great Lakes is excellent. There may be more traffic there, of course, but the vessels are of equivalent size. The question you ask is difficult to answer in a few seconds. In actual fact, the Great Lakes certification system is the result of an anomaly: on the Great Lakes, Canadian officers on Canadian vessels were exempted from pilotage because of a previous system.

Transport committee  Thank you for the question, Mr. Aubin. There is no short answer, but I will at least try to give you a quick one. As we can see with smartphones and artificial intelligence systems in means of transportation, and so on, technologies are likely to evolve rapidly, not just in navigation and shipping, but in society as a whole.

Transport committee  No. Our apprentice pilots are planning to be licenced in the future. When they are licenced, they will be my colleagues, pilots who are members of the Corporation des pilotes du Saint-Laurent central.

Transport committee  The current framework, and the one that is proposed, should ensure Canadians, in a practical sense, that marine traffic will continue to grow in Canada, but in a safe and responsible way. You can read the proposed amendments. The preamble mentions using technology effectively in order to improve the safety and the efficiency of the shipping.

Transport committee  Thank you for that question, Mr. Iacono. Yes, indeed, the bill as proposed will extend the existing act that guarantees the decision-making independence of pilots, in the sense that pilots serve the Canadian public. They do not serve shipowners, unlike certificate holders, who might work for a shipowner, for example.

Transport committee  I believe that the compliance regime proposed in Bill C-97 is an extremely rigorous process in which Transport Canada and the minister are given very well designed compliance powers. By their very nature, they will guarantee the levels of safety that Canadians expect. You can see it all in the new compliance regime.

Transport committee  That is an excellent question, Mr. Iacono. I believe that the act will allow Canadian pilots to continue to flourish in a booming professional environment. For Canadian pilots, this new legislation will allow us to develop our industry, as we have been doing for a number of years, not only at home, but also abroad.

Transport committee  Good morning, Madam Chair and honourable members of the committee. The Corporation des pilotes du Saint-Laurent central brings together the pilots on the St. Lawrence between Quebec City and Montreal, including the port of Montreal. With 112 pilots and 14 apprentice pilots currently enrolled in the rigorous 24-month training program, the corporation has one of the largest memberships in the country.