You sent us your brief on rail safety. You're making a nice speech; you're paid to come and tell us that things are going better.
I'll tell you from the outset that I put the question to the representative from the Transportation Safety Board, who appeared before our committee on SMS in the air industry. I asked him directly whether he had observed a reduction in the number of accidents since SMS had been implemented in the rail industry. He was unable to confirm that for me. It is too soon for the Transportation Safety Board to confirm that the Safety Management System has a direct effect on accident reduction.
I'm quite willing for you to tell me that things are going better and that you are performing well and have a business culture. The problem is that, in Quebec, in Montmagny, among other places— and that wasn't in 2005, because you had an increase in the number of accidents in 2005—in 2004 and 2007, there were derailments. You're telling us today that these events were given extensive media coverage. Following the 2007 derailment, you could see a tanker a few feet away from a house. I can understand why it got media coverage. These weren't minor derailments that occurred in Montmagny.
I wonder how you can manage this situation. You know that the mayor came and told us about the mood in his community: people in Montmagny no longer believe Canadian National. There was a major accident in 2004. You said that everything would be fine, and another major accident occurred in 2007. A psychosis has arisen in the community over rail transport. I'm willing for you to talk to us as you are doing today, but you've understood that you have a confidence problem in the communities where there have been repeated accidents, like Montmagny. The population doesn't believe that your safety, equipment maintenance system. or whatever, is effective after two accidents: in 2004 and 2007. These weren't minor derailments: we're talking about 26 cars in 2004 and some 15 in 2007. Those aren't minor derailments.
I'd like you to try today to give me back, to give the community of Montmagny back a feeling of safety.