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When Canadian ships are not suitable or available to transport goods and people between two points in Canada, or to conduct other marine activity of a commercial nature in Canada, the Coasting Trade Act, S.C. 1992, c. 31 determines the circumstances in which non-Canadian ships will be allowed to participate in the Canadian coasting trade. The Act itself is founded upon the Canadian Government’s interest in ensuring that commercial marine activity in Canada is facilitated as often as possible by Canadian ships. While Canadian ships are preferred by the Government, circumstances may require non-Canadian ships to operate in the Canadian coasting trade. Canada looks to the Act for the method to ascertain when that might be permitted.