Thank you, Mr. Chair.
The original article that is the subject of this amendment reads as follows:
The Minister may make an interim order that contains any provision that may be contained in a regulation made under this Act, if the Minister believes that immediate action is required to deal with a threat or to reduce a direct or indirect risk to the security of marine transportation or to the health of persons involved in the marine transportation system.
The amendment's purpose is essentially to remove the word “believes”.
We therefore move that Bill C‑33, in clause 55, be amended (a) by replacing line 4 on page 38 with the following:
tion made under this Act, if im-
We think that the fact that the minister only needs to believe there is a threat or risk gives him significant power. He could therefore act simply on a belief, which he would not necessarily be required to prove.
We'd like to further circumscribe that power. There will be other similar amendments a little later today.