Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Chairman, I'm going to say, I guess from the beginning, that this is a new issue to me. I've not been exposed to the railway noise issue before. But I have to tell you the gap that is between this bill and the concerns and interests of the people who've testified here today is so large that you could drive a train through it.
I don't know what the government has done in terms of consulting with locally affected communities, because I see here changes that are projected in the Canada Transportation Act, for example, which I don't have any confidence are going to address these issues at all. I see a potential crash course collision with litigation. I don't know how the Canada Transportation Act is going to deal with the question of making public guidelines, in consultation with interested parties, to explain the elements it will take into consideration when deciding noise complaints. Common-law history is paved with tests of reasonableness, which lead to more and more litigation.
I read excellently prepared briefs, by the way. Congratulations to the folks who have given us written briefs. These are the best briefs I've received since sitting on this committee, because they actually speak to the specificity of the bill and tell us exactly what you'd like to see in terms of changes. So congratulations, Monsieur Jobin, and to the gentleman who is on the phone line, Mr. Allen, thank you.
I'm going to toss this out to all the witnesses and say that you've raised some incredibly important points here about municipal governments being engaged; about sanctions and how they might be implemented; about whether or not this is actually going to lead to less litigation or to more litigation; and about the question of whether or not we ought to have decibel tests or non-decibel tests applied here in terms of the noise levels.
Basically, could I conclude from this, as a mere mortal MP, that we have to go back to the drawing board and re-examine this? I see a gaping hole so large between the elements of this bill and the concerns of you as citizens on the ground, from across the country, that I'm now becoming deeply concerned.