House of Commons Debates VOLUME 148 Ï NUMBER 192 Ï 1st SESSION Ï 42nd PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Monday, June 12, 2017 Speaker: The Honourable Geoff Regan CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) 12437 HOUSE OF COMMONS Monday, June 12, 2017 The House met at 11 a.m. when innocent U.S. citizens are stopped, forced to lie in the bottom of their boats, and fined on the spot for breaking a regulation that they did not know existed. When this Parliament began, I introduced a private member's bill to correct the situation. My colleague in the Prayer Senate, Senator Bob Runciman, introduced a similar bill in the Senate that eventually became the bill in front of us today, Bill S-233. PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS I was pleased when the Senate not only considered Bill S-233, but Ï (1105) provided speedy passage of it. It was thoroughly debated, and [English] committee heard from witnesses from both sides of the border. That PUBLIC SAFETY AND NATIONAL SECURITY committee made some reasonable and excellent changes to make the bill better following consultation with the CBSA. It was quickly The House proceeded to the consideration of Bill S-233, An Act given third reading, approved, and sent to the House, where I have to amend the Customs Act and the Immigration and Refugee been pleased to sponsor it. The bill was supported by all parties in Protection Act (presentation and reporting requirements), as reported the Senate and was passed quickly to the House, where it has also (with amendment) from the committee. been receiving speedy processing and all-party support. Just last Mr. Gordon Brown (Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands week, it also passed through the public safety committee and Rideau Lakes, CPC) moved that the bill, as amended, be unanimously. I want to thank the Senate and my colleagues in the concurred in. House for recognizing the importance of the bill and getting it passed The Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? before the summer boating season gets into full swing. Some hon. members: Agreed. The current law has been a black eye for Canada for many years, (Motion agreed to) and even the agency in charge of enforcing the law realizes how onerous and restrictive it has been both to enforce and defend. That The Speaker: When shall the bill be read a third time? By leave, is why the agency had a hand in amending the bill, to ensure that it now? not only meets the enforcement requirements, but is compliant with Some hon. members: Agreed. being a good neighbour. Mr. Gordon Brown moved that the bill be read the third time and passed. While we are entitled to enforce any laws we see fit to protect our borders, transiting pleasure boaters are not our enemies. This bill He said: Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise once again to speak recognizes that fact. I should point out that while the bill permits briefly about Bill S-233, why it is important, and why it is important pleasure boaters to transit our waters, it still gives the CBSA the that it be dealt with quickly by the House. freedom to stop any vessel that it wishes if it suspects that something is amiss. Any transiting boater who subsequently decides to stop in Bill S-233 would correct a long-standing problem on the Canada, drop anchor in Canadian waters, or tie up to another vessel, waterways along our border with the United States, whereby must still report to the CBSA. The bill would also clear up pleasure boaters transiting these waters must check in at the Canada regulations in a few other areas, and will, for example, now permit Border Services Agency's border crossings if they intend to stop or whale-watching passengers to exit Canadian waters and return anchor in Canada. As I have outlined previously, this is an onerous without requiring a CBSA inspection upon their return, provided restriction to pleasure craft operators, who may not know that they they do not leave the vessel. have drifted into Canadian waters while fishing or relaxing with their families, and it is a colossal waste of CBSA resources to try to track and charge offenders. I do not want to take up too much of the House's time with this bill today. There has been much debate on this bill, and I am encouraged The current regulations were put in place during prohibition and that there has been strong support from all sides of the House. I have become an impediment to relations with our neighbours along know all members agreed on the need for this change and I the border, bringing Canada bad press and hard feelings, especially appreciate their support. 12438 COMMONS DEBATES June 12, 2017 Private Members' Business Mrs. Karen McCrimmon (Parliamentary Secretary to the between Canadian ports of call without requiring further CBSA Minister of Transport, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to speak in processing. This bill would also apply to aircraft, which may cross support of Senator Runciman's Bill S-233, conveyance presentation incidentally into Canadian airspace without landing. and reporting requirements modernization act. This bill would relieve persons onboard conveyances, such as In sum, these changes would streamline reporting requirements, private boats, tour boats, cruise ships, and private aircraft, from reduce administrative burden for low-risk activities, and align having to report to the Canada Border Services Agency when they Canada's approach with that of the United States. The bill would do pass incidentally into or out of Canadian waters or airspace. so while respecting our commitment to ensuring the safety and We are pleased that this bill has made such rapid progress through integrity of Canada's borders. the Senate, where it passed unanimously, and the House. I would like to thank the standing committees of both Houses for their collaborative and expeditious deliberations. During the course of the bill's development, parties on both sides of this House and the upper chamber agreed to strengthen reporting Current Canadian law requires that all boaters report to the CBSA exceptions and to make certain that the CBSA and its law every time that they enter Canadian waters. This is in contrast to the enforcement partners have everything they need to do their jobs United States, where boaters are only required to report their arrival effectively. As a result, amendments were made to apply the same set to the United States Customs and Border Protection if they have of newly proposed conditions under Bill S-233 to loop movements, docked at a foreign port or have had contact with another vessel in which are cross-border movements in and out of Canadian, U.S., or foreign waters. international waters that return to the same place of origin; and direct Ï (1110) transits, which are cross-border movements from one location [Translation] outside of Canada to another location outside of Canada, or from one location within Canada to another location within Canada. Simple activities like fishing, water skiing, and touring do not trigger reporting requirements. The differences in American and Canadian reporting requirements have been a source of frustration The amendments specify that people and goods not disembark the for individuals who enjoy leisure activities and businesses that make vessel or aircraft, and that the vessel or aircraft not anchor, moor, a living on our shared waterways. land, or make contact with another conveyance. This bill also makes [English] explicitly clear that border services officers would retain similar powers that they have under both the Immigration and Refugee As the member opposite from Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Protection Act, and the Customs Act. Islands and Rideau Lakes has rightly emphasized, international tourism is a key driver of Canada's economy. We must do everything we can to support and promote our tourist industry, and the small and medium-sized businesses that are its backbone. This means that CBSA officers can continue to require people to answer customs or immigration questions regardless of whether they Millions of Canadians rely on the tourism sector for employment, are exempted from reporting. Officers may ask, for example, to and that is why our government has made it a priority to promote verify a person's goods, work permits, or other immigration Canada as a top destination in the global tourism sector. Making sure documents, or they may compel an examination if they deem it that more international tourists choose Canada would mean more warranted. jobs for Canadian youth and a boost for small businesses in every region of the country. This bill would help us to market Canada as a destination of Both the CBSA and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have choice more effectively. It will do this by exempting private boaters confirmed that the bill respects their mandates and will allow officers or passengers on other water-borne craft from having to report to the to focus on higher priority reporting and monitoring activities. CBSA when crossing into or out of Canadian waters for fishing, sightseeing, or other low-risk activities. Doing so would reduce the Ï (1115) reporting burden on the boating community and align our marine reporting requirements with those of the United States. This would bring great benefit to water-sports enthusiasts and [Translation] businesses in communities on both sides of the border. People aboard boats, be they private craft, tour boats, cruise ships, or even whale-watching ships, would no longer be required to report to the Thanks to these important consultations and the collaboration of CBSA in the following circumstances: when they do not land on honourable senators and MPs, I am confident that this bill will Canadian soil, and when they do not let off existing passengers or reduce the burden on individuals and businesses without sacrificing take on board new passengers when in our waters.