MP Gallant Welcomes Changes to Marine Liability Act

June 24, 2009

BEACHBURG, ONTARIO… MP Cheryl Gallant, (Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke), welcomed the recent passing into law amendments to the Marine Liability Act that will benefit our local “adventure tourism” industry.

“Changes to this legislation were a priority for our party as the Government of Canada. I had been seeking changes on behalf of constituents in my Riding of Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke who derive their employment from the adventure tourism industry, by introducing a number of Private Members Bills in the previous Parliaments,” stated Cheryl Gallant, MP.

“Thank-you to Municipal councils, like Whitewater Region Council, which is home to some of the finest whitewater rafting in the world, for passing motions, to protect adventure tourism, and the jobs it brings not only to Renfrew County, but to Canadians involved in this activity right across Canada.”

“Adventure tourism companies like Wilderness Tours, Madawaska Canu Centre and River Run, all made representations to me about the need to amend the Marine Liability Act to allow them to continue in business.”

“Changes made to the Marine Liability Act in 2001 by the old government benefited large shipping companies like Canada Steamship Lines. However, the unforeseen consequences of legislated compulsory insurance onto adventure tourism operators threatened their entire industry.”

“In 2004, during the 37th Parliament, which I had the pleasure of representing the people of Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke, I introduced a Private Member's Bill, An Act to Amend the Marine Liability Act. The purpose of that bill was to correct the deficiencies in the Marine Liability Act that occurred as a result of those amendments that were made to this legislation by the old government during the first session of the 37th Parliament,” said Cheryl Gallant, MP.
  
“Specifically, my private member’s bill would have amended section 37 of the Marine Liability Act to exempt adventure tourism activities such as whitewater rafting and sea kayaking as well as any other recreational marine activity from the compulsory insurance requirements of the Marine Liability Act as it relates to the carriage of passengers.”

“It was with great pleasure that I supported the decision of our government to incorporate the changes I was seeking in my private member’s bill and put it forth on a priority basis as government legislation,” concluded MP Cheryl Gallant.