My question is also for the government leader in the Senate. Two weeks ago, U.S. President Biden signed into law the Alaska Tourism Restoration Act. This legislation temporarily allows cruise ships to sail from the State of Washington to Alaska without having to stop in Canada, specifically in my home province of B.C.

The Tourism Industry Association of B.C. has said that if this change is made permanent:

That would obviously be seriously detrimental to the cruise ship sector, and by extension the whole tourism industry.

Leader, the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority is asking your government to allow what is known as technical calls. Technical calls are stops where passengers and crew do not leave the ship. In February, the Trudeau government refused to give approval to these safe technical calls. Will your government reconsider this decision and instead work with the U.S. to allow technical calls?

I would really appreciate that. I can see the impact of this decision already in B.C. and particularly on the West Coast.

Leader, in February I raised with you the challenges that are being faced by small business owners in Vancouver’s historic Chinatown, which is one of the areas that would benefit from the tourists that would come through the cruise industry. The loss of customers from cruise ships and tour groups has already devastated Chinatown businesses. Cruise ships are banned from Canada until the end of February 2022, and the possibility that some cruise ships could permanently bypass Canada as a result of this precedent-setting legislation is simply unacceptable.

Leader, have any members of the Trudeau government sought and received assurances from their American counterparts that this measure will only be temporary? If so, who gave those assurances to our Canadian politicians?