Government Operations Committee on May 3rd, 2016

[Kathy Fox]

Transport Canada's response to this recommendation was also deemed to be well-intentioned, but we will once again wait to see how things develop.

We are concerned about the standards. For companies with at least 10,000 cars per year travelling on a rail line, Transport Canada wants to know their contents. This standard would not have helped the situation in Lac-Mégantic because MMA had fewer than 10,000 cars using that rail line per year. So we were asked to review these numbers.

As to the two remaining recommendations, one pertains to prevention for cars that are not sufficiently secured and can run away on a hill. Our first evaluation of the response to this recommendation was that it was only partially satisfactory because we had questions about the application of the new regulations. We actually just repeated this evaluation and our determination was the same.

The fifth recommendation pertains to oversight by Transport Canada of the safety management systems. We determined that Transport Canada's plan was satisfactory but we want to see the actual results.

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC]

Do you mean you want to see how the private rail companies will respond to Transport Canada's safety management requirements?

[Kathy Fox]

Yes, in part, but we also want to ensure that oversight by Transport Canada is effective. It must be able to conduct detailed audits to verify that safety management systems are in place and that those systems effectively manage the risks posed by these companies. This can take some time.

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC]

You said that Transport Canada must verify that the rail companies implement safety mechanisms. Do you see a greater risk with the small rail companies as regards implementing safety management plans?

[Kathy Fox]

In the case of Lac-Mégantic, we found this to be the case with the company in question, but I do not want to generalize. Each company that is subject to the rules requiring it to have a safety management system must ensure that the system actually works. That will help it manage risks.

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC]

Did you look into Transport Canada's ability to ensure that rail companies implement their safety management system?

[Kathy Fox]

I'm sorry, I did not understand your question.

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC]

In other words, in your opinion, does Transport Canada have sufficient resources to ensure that rail companies appropriately monitor their safety management systems?

[Kathy Fox]

In the case of Lac-Mégantic, the issue was not having sufficient resources, but rather determining how Transport Canada's resources were used to inspect and oversee companies to ensure that they comply with regulations and effectively manage risks.

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC]

I would like to talk about a more recent tragedy.

Have you begun your investigation into the recent airplane accident on the Magdalen Islands?

[Kathy Fox]

Yes, the investigation is ongoing.

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC]

When approximately do you expect to get the results of this investigation?

[Kathy Fox]

I can't say for sure, but I can tell you that a team is now analyzing the data we have on the accident. We have to take the time needed to find the real causes of the accident. We are, however, trying to complete it as quickly as possible.

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC]

Perfect, thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Tom Lukiwski]

Mr. Weir, please, for seven minutes.

[Erin Weir, NDP, Regina—Lewvan, SK]

I'd like to pick up where I left off in regard to the $1.4 million in support of the Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments. I'm just wondering what that money will be used for. How many people will be employed in supporting that advisory board?

[Stephen Lucas]

The money proposed in supplementary estimates for the support through the Privy Council Office for the independent advisory board is to support the function of the board itself, which has three federal members and then two for each province, in terms of their meetings and deliberations. In addition, the funds will support a small secretariat within the Privy Council Office to enable the process, including the website for people to apply and show interest in the Senate. It includes costs such as translation, printing and professional services, and a small salary allotment of I think $0.5 million.

[Karen Cahill]

It also includes travel costs for the board members.

[Erin Weir, NDP, Regina—Lewvan, SK]

The small secretariat would be about how many people?

[Stephen Lucas]

I think it's two people.

[Erin Weir, NDP, Regina—Lewvan, SK]

Okay. No problem.

If there is any further information, you can always get back to us.

[Stephen Lucas]

We will verify that and provide the information to the committee to validate the specific number.

[Erin Weir, NDP, Regina—Lewvan, SK]

That's much appreciated.

To continue with PCO, there was a question earlier about how much is being spent on the Prime Minister's Office. I think the answer was that it was going to stay at $10.6 million. Within the Langevin Block, how is the distinction made and maintained between work through PCO and the civil service versus the more political work of the PMO, with particular reference to these new employees at PCO who will be working on the Prime Minister's digital presence?

[Stephen Lucas]

Fundamentally, the relationship is similar to what you would find between ministers and their office staff on the political side and the professional non-partisan public service on the departmental side.

The Privy Council Office employees are part of the Public Service of Canada. We provide advice, based on evidence, to the Prime Minister and support the official duties of the Government of Canada. Official Government of Canada activities receive communications support through the Prime Minister's official website.

These distinctions between the role of public servants on the Privy Council side and political staff on the side of the Prime Minister's Office or in ministers' offices are defined and delineated in Open and Accountable Government, a guide provided to ministers and posted on the web.

[Erin Weir, NDP, Regina—Lewvan, SK]

You don't see any concern that the work done on the Prime Minister's digital presence might blur the lines between political work and civil service work. You think it's quite easy to compartmentalize that.