Transport Committee on April 8th, 2014

[Wai Young, Conservative, Vancouver South, BC]

So Mr. Stevens, and to all of you again, I would like to challenge you all to think a little bit more beyond SMS and all of these wonderful things that are being put in. I think we need to take a longer-term view at how these changes over the last 20 years have impacted the safety of our rail system, the efficiency of it today, and going forward, what we need to build or what we need to do, as a government—but not just as a government, as Canadians. What do we need to do together to ensure that we build a modern, safe railway system to ensure our needs and to keep our communities safe at the same time?

Somebody else had their hand up as well. Someone had a comment....

[Steve Del Bosco]

We support what you're saying. I think VIA's developed its own vision of what it wants to be 10 years from now, 15 years from now. There's no question that infrastructure is part of that vision. To achieve that vision not only do you have to make sure that you have a safe operation but also an operation that Canadians will use. But safety's always paramount, even in those long-term visions. We can't develop them alone. We do need help from communities and from other organizations to ensure that those safety standards are built into it and at the same time allow us to perform, whether it's a passenger railway or a freight railway, in a way that we're competitive and we can do our job.

[Wai Young, Conservative, Vancouver South, BC]

Thank you.

I have just one final question then. Given the complexities, as we just said, about where the rail systems are, the complexities around not just the small systems, a SMS, but throughout Canada on rail safety, are there systems currently in place, some sort of national organization or national conference where all of you guys and all the stakeholders can go to try to resolve this issue? Or is there more that the federal government could do to facilitate a longer-term view discussion, and bringing all the players together to resolve this issue so that we have a modern efficient system?

[Jean Tierney]

I think there is an opportunity for that. I think we need to get into the education system as well so that rail safety awareness is taught at a very young age and reinforced. You know how most high schools have community program volunteers. We think rail safety awareness should be something that's accepted, an Operation Lifesaver-type volunteer. I know my children are out there doing things. I'd rather they were out raising awareness about safety.

[Wai Young, Conservative, Vancouver South, BC]

So are you saying, Ms. Tierney, that there's no current body in place, or group, where you all come together to discuss these bigger issues?

[Jean Tierney]

Through the Railway Association of Canada...however, I don't know if it's having the impact that you're talking about. I think there's more that can be done.

[Wai Young, Conservative, Vancouver South, BC]

There's no safety fund then in place that communities or unions or people can tap into. I know that we had put into place, for our world tanker safety program, that they had to have a certain amount of insurance and the money is there in case there are incidents. Is that not in place with the rail system?

[Jean Tierney]

The only one that we've been aware of is the Transport Canada grade-crossing improvement program. That's a way for a railway to bring to the attention of citizens in the various communities that there's money available to them if they close a crossing or do these improvements. But other than that....

[Wai Young, Conservative, Vancouver South, BC]

Is this program embedded into the FCM?

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

I'm sorry, Ms. Young.

[Wai Young, Conservative, Vancouver South, BC]

Are we out of time?

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

Yes, we are out of time.

[Wai Young, Conservative, Vancouver South, BC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

If you want to have a quick comment to that, Ms. Tierney, go ahead.

[Jean Tierney]

I had finished, if that's okay.

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

Okay, that's fine.

[Wai Young, Conservative, Vancouver South, BC]

Could you comment on the record if this program or another one like it is embedded into FCM, if they're aware of the fact that they can work with this program?

[Jean Tierney]

I'm not aware, sorry.

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

We never have enough time, but I'd like very much to thank all of you for being here today and for participating in our study. At some point the committee will have a report of it. Your input has been very valuable.

Thank you very much.