[English]
EVIDENCE
[Recorded by Electronic Apparatus]
Thursday, May 27, 1999
• 0916
[English]
The Chairman (Mr. Raymond Bonin (Nickel Belt, Lib.)): Good morning and welcome. We have a bill before us this morning that seems pretty straightforward. It appears we're one of the last countries to do this house-cleaning.
I will ask our witnesses, Ms. Valérie Dufour and Ms. MacNab, to make a two- or three-minute presentation, unless you feel there should be more information. It seems everyone is pretty well in agreement with the bill.
[Translation]
Please proceed, Ms. Dufour.
[English]
Ms. Valérie Dufour (Director, Domestic Air Policy, Transport Canada): This is probably one of the shortest bills you've ever looked at. It has only six clauses to it. It looks longer because of the annexes attached to it. It's a bill that has as its principal purpose to annex two new international conventions, which in fact, as the chair says, Canada is catching up by becoming a member of.
It's non-controversial. The Air Transport Association appeared before the Senate standing committee and gave its full approval, and we have the full approval of all departments of government and the sectors of industry that we consulted.
These are issues dealing with the extension of coverage to coach air carriers. In your early hearings, you heard about the value of coach airing. This carries the liability regime along to accompany it, clarifies and improves the cargo sector by allowing electronic transmission of air waybills, and clarifies liability. It has a lot of positive results for such a very short bill.
We're quite prepared to answer any specific questions.
The Chairman: Is there need for clarification, anyone?
Are you prepared to go through clause-by-clause?
Some hon. members: Yes.
(Clauses 2 to 5 inclusive agreed to)
(Schedules IV and V agreed to)
(Clause 1 agreed to)
The Chairman: Shall the title carry?
Some hon. members: Agreed.
The Chairman: Shall the bill carry?
Some hon. members: Agreed.
The Chairman: Shall I report the bill?
Some hon. members: Agreed.
The Chairman: Shall the committee order a reprint for use at report stage?
Some hon. members: Agreed.
The Clerk of the Committee: We don't need a reprint.
The Chairman: There's no need for that? Okay.
Is there anything else for the good of the club?
Thank you very much, everyone.
An hon. member: What a team!
Some hon. members: Hear, hear!
The Chairman: The meeting is adjourned.