Thank you very much, Chair.
I'm glad to be back here with the committee and to see you back with the committee as well. Thank you very much.
I'm also glad to see the representatives of Transport Canada back here, and you, Mr. Keenan.
Where do I start? This report disturbed me greatly when the Auditor General first presented us with all the reports we have on a regular basis. Why? Not that I know anything about cars—I just know how to drive one—but because of the confidence and the trust that Canadians have in Transport Canada to ensure that the cars we are driving are safe. So, yes, I certainly agree that cars are a lot safer. I think we can applaud manufacturers for taking that responsibility seriously.
I find it interesting that you will be consulting with the insurance companies. Let let us not forget that insurance companies are interested in reducing the payout of claims, so they have a special interest. I find it interesting that other stakeholders who have a vested interest in the safety of Canadians have yet to be consulted.
I deplore the fact that the very reason for the vehicle safety regulations is to prevent accidents from happening, which seems to have slipped from the operations and mandate of Transport Canada. In saying so I go to the Auditor General's report. In paragraph 4.22, the Auditor General's office states:
We found that Transport Canada did not maintain an up-to-date regulatory framework for passenger vehicle safety. There were lengthy delays, sometimes more than 10 years, from the time work began on an issue to the Department's implementation of new standards or changes to existing ones. We found that Transport Canada had discussions with manufacturers prior to announcing its intention to implement or modify a particular regulation in the Canada Gazette, Part I. These consultations often went beyond technical feasibility issues, which contributed to these delays. Finally, we found that Transport Canada did not systematically consult with other important stakeholders, such as vehicle parts and equipment suppliers, insurance companies, medical associations, and police.
What were those discussions with the manufacturers about, and why were the other stakeholders not consulted?