Transport Committee on Oct. 24th, 2006

[Raynald Bélanger]

We're planning to double our ridership. We can double our ridership with the proper moves--buying double-decker cars, adding more trains, and everything. This is our plan. The AMT produced a three-year plan, and it's all there. It's all on paper right now. For us, it will be a new era.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Mr. Kelsey.

[Doug Kelsey]

In the case of West Coast Express, we know there's demand for weekend service and for selective daily service, but we are not far enough advanced on what that actually might look like. Frankly, I said that I wasn't going to waste my time and my team's time--this is all hypothetical--until this happens. But there are some early indications, some early research, to say there's quite a bit of pent-up demand here.

[Gary McNeil]

We're looking at a 50% increase in our ridership over the next 10 years, actually. I don't want to put it in the context that if Bill C-11 doesn't get through, it's not going to happen. It's one of those things that will probably happen faster with Bill C-11, but it's going to happen anyhow. The province has recognized the fact that we have to do things on the rail side, so it's going to move ahead. It's just going to cost the taxpayers more if Bill C-11 doesn't go through, that's all.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Thank you very much for your presentations today, Mr. Bélanger, Mr. Kelsey, and Mr. McNeil. We appreciate it. I'm sure you're looking forward, as we are, to the end results of these meetings. We appreciate your time. Thanks very much.

I think we'll try to be as quick as we can, as we do have a motion on the floor that we want to deal with.

We'll suspend for two minutes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Order, please.

As we do have some limited time, I'd like to turn the floor over to Mr. Bell, who gave notice of motion at the last meeting.

Mr. Bell.

[Don Bell, Liberal, North Vancouver, BC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Monsieur Laframboise.

[Mario Laframboise, Bloc, Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC]

Mr. Chair, with your permission, before discussing Mr. Bell's motion, I'd like to raise a procedural matter.

I introduced a motion for Mr. Duchesneau and the President and CEO of ADM, Mr. Cherry, to appear before the committee. However, I have not had an answer. Since then, the committee has considered other motions on two occasions. I want to discuss the motions with my colleagues, but I would like us to make sure that the witnesses we have agreed to summon can appear.

I've spoken to the clerk. He told me that he had sent Mr. Duchesneau e-mails, but that he had not received any reply. That's a problem for me. I'd like someone to tell me that we've contacted Mr. Duchesneau and Mr. Cherry to ask them when they will be available so that we can set a deadline.

I want to discuss other subjects, but, if my subject is not addressed and if this is a way of pushing back the appearances of these witnesses, I will oppose my colleagues' motions, not because I disagree with them, but because I simply want to have mine examined.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

That's a very good point. I am advised that Mr. Duchesneau had suggested near the end of November he would be available to attend the committee.

[Mario Laframboise, Bloc, Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC]

Except that we haven't received confirmation. I spoke to the clerk. There's nothing written.

If a witness acts like a delinquent and does not want to answer, we have means to call him to order. I would like to be assured that, by next Thursday, we will have contacted someone at Mr. Duchesneau's office. I want to know whether everyone agrees that we should ask him to answer us and tell us when he will be available.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

I'd be happy to make sure the clerk makes Mr. Duchesneau aware of your concerns. If we don't get a confirmation, we'll make sure that we set aside some time to proceed with it.

Mr. McGuinty.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

When did we actually contact Mr. Duchesneau?

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

It would have been after the motion was brought forward by Mr. Laframboise.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

And the date of that discussion was what?

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

October 3.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

So we're being told by the president and CEO of CATSA that he's not available until the end of November?

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

I think, yes, that's basically what's going to fit into his schedule. I guess we can demand that he come, but we left it as an open invitation.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

As a point of information, am I to understand that Mr. Duchesneau's term of appointment is going to be up soon?

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

I have no idea, Mr. McGuinty.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

I believe it is, and I think it would be important to get him here, to appear before this committee, forthwith. Three weeks is plenty of notice. Other witnesses have moved mountains to be here in front of us. I personally don't understand why Monsieur Duchesneau hasn't already appeared.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

I can't speak for Mr. Duchesneau. What I can do is say that, through the clerk, we'll contact him again and impress upon him the urgency and to provide us with a fixed date. And if it's not satisfactory to the committee, then we'll take the necessary steps.

Mr. Jean.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

I understand that the will of the committee was to actually have both persons, CATSA and the other gentleman, here at the same time, and that might be part of the scheduling conflicts.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

I know there were two names on the request, so that might be part of it.

But can I advise the committee that we'll check directly with him and get back to you this Thursday?

[Robert Carrier, Bloc, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

With the two of them?