Evidence of meeting #8 for Natural Resources in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was amendments.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board
An “independent safety regulator” in the context which the member is suggesting would not come to a different conclusion with respect to 30-minute run-dry capability in our offshore.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Thank you.
Ms. Duncan, there is no time left in Mr. Julian's allocated time.
NDP
Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
The point of order took up part of my time. That's not correct.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
No, the time was up already before that even happened.
Ms. Crockatt, go ahead, please.
Conservative
Joan Crockatt Conservative Calgary Centre, AB
Thank you very much.
Witnesses, thank you again for being here and helping us to clarify a lot of these issues.
How many recommendations were there from the Transportation Safety Board?
Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board
In the most recent suite of Transport Canada—
December 2nd, 2013 / 5:30 p.m.
Conservative
Chief Executive Officer, Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board
The Wells inquiry had 29 recommendations.
Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board
Sixteen have been fully implemented to this point.
Conservative
Joan Crockatt Conservative Calgary Centre, AB
How many are on track to be implemented now, including with this legislation that we're discussing today?
Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board
This legislation does not flow from the Wells inquiry. It predates the Wells inquiry. Sixteen have been fully implemented, let's say, twelve and a half are well under way, and the outstanding one being the one that was discussed earlier with respect to the recommendation for a separate safety agency. That's what the government's—
Conservative
Joan Crockatt Conservative Calgary Centre, AB
I was hoping we might be able to clarify that. How many in total of the recommendations have been fully implemented or are on their way to being implemented?
Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board
Sixteen are fully implemented, and twelve and a half are on their way to being totally implemented.
Conservative
Joan Crockatt Conservative Calgary Centre, AB
So, twenty-eight and a half of twenty-nine recommendations.
Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board
That's right.
Conservative
Joan Crockatt Conservative Calgary Centre, AB
Good. I was hoping to put that into some sort of perspective, seeing how we seem to be on the far margins of this.
You testified today that there is quite a bit of a grey area and lack of clarity about whether that final recommendation would have been effective in being able to make helicopter transportation safer. Is that correct?
Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board
Again, I'm aware of the different views around the idea of a separate safety agency. The board hasn't weighed in on that debate. It has left it to the government to assess and decide. Again, I'll reiterate that the independence of the board should not be cause for concern by anybody. We have a very professional staff; safety is our top priority, and we do it very well. We have taken measures consistent with Judge Wells' recommendation 29(b).