Evidence of meeting #16 for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was noise.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:50 p.m.
Acting chairman, Canadian Transportation Agency
We have five active members right now, because one member's position is vacant and the other member is on long-term disability.
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
David McGuinty Liberal Ottawa South, ON
Can you give me an idea of what the salary range is for an appointee?
October 3rd, 2006 / 4:50 p.m.
Acting chairman, Canadian Transportation Agency
The salary range is between $140,000 and $170,000.
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
David McGuinty Liberal Ottawa South, ON
Okay.
How does the appointments process work? Is it incumbent upon the agency to deliver a short list of names to the minister for his consideration?
4:50 p.m.
Acting chairman, Canadian Transportation Agency
The appointment is done by order in council, and it's the minister who decides. I don't know how the appointments work. To me, there are so many—
4:50 p.m.
Some hon. members
Oh, oh!
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
David McGuinty Liberal Ottawa South, ON
I'm asking because you're the acting CEO, Mr. Dufault. Right?
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
4:50 p.m.
Acting chairman, Canadian Transportation Agency
Not currently. We were asked when we appointed the air complaints commissioner. For the second one, we were asked to provide some suggestions. But that's the only time in my eight and a half years at the agency when we've been asked to make suggestions on appointing a member.
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
David McGuinty Liberal Ottawa South, ON
No changes have been proposed by the government in the appointments process that have been pursued in the reasonable past, let's say, right?
4:50 p.m.
Acting chairman, Canadian Transportation Agency
If there have been changes, I haven't heard about them. They haven't consulted me, and I doubt that they will consult me. For the selection of a new chairman, they asked the agency, or they asked the previous chairman before she departed to provide a job description, suggestions, and so on. They had a job description, qualifications, criteria, and so on.
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
David McGuinty Liberal Ottawa South, ON
So from a transparency perspective, Monsieur Dufault, in terms of the appointments of members, there's been no change.
4:50 p.m.
Acting chairman, Canadian Transportation Agency
No. They have posted the competition. It was in the Canada Gazette, and those interested can apply, and presumably have applied. But I'm not aware of the process itself. The application has to be sent to PCO, to the senior appointments secretariat. But the process was carried out as it would be for any other job that is posted in the paper. If you believe you meet the qualifications, apply at such and such a place by such and such a date.
4:50 p.m.
Conservative
4:50 p.m.
Bloc
Robert Carrier Bloc Alfred-Pellan, QC
You said earlier that any CTA decision is signed off by one or two members.
4:50 p.m.
Bloc
Robert Carrier Bloc Alfred-Pellan, QC
I would imagine that all decisions are signed by both the chairman and the person responsible of the file.
4:50 p.m.
Acting chairman, Canadian Transportation Agency
No.
You are thinking of the chair of the review panel. The chairman of the CTA assigns members to panels. He is both a member and chief executive officer. If he chooses to sit on a panel, he will hear the case and confirm the decision issued by the other, or other two members of the panel.
Normally, two members are required for quorum; however, when a case is controversial, there are usually three members to ensure that there is always a majority decision.
4:55 p.m.
Bloc
Robert Carrier Bloc Alfred-Pellan, QC
I would like to know how the work is shared out. Are matters relating to railway transportation or noise pollution, for example, given to those who have expertise in these fields; or is it distributed on a regional basis?
4:55 p.m.
Acting chairman, Canadian Transportation Agency
No, it is not done on a regional basis. Regardless of where members are from, they represent the CTA and work for all Canadians. It is the chairman's prerogative to assign members to panels. He bases his decision on certain criteria, which can vary from one case to another. The expertise required for handling a particular case is one of the factors considered. Obviously, not everybody has the same level of expertise. It is a matter of assigning the work in an appropriate manner so that it is dealt with in the best way possible, but also taking into consideration the workload of the various members.
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
With that, I will thank our witnesses for coming today. It has been suggested by the committee that after we've heard the series of witnesses who will present to this committee, we may wish to ask you to come and just answer some further questions. I would ask that when or if we do that you'd be prepared to make yourself available.
