Evidence of meeting #34 for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was investigation.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
February 12th, 2007 / 4:15 p.m.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I am a new member of the committee, so I will try and tackle this from a broader perspective.
Mr. Chairman, you will correct me or assist me if I am asking questions to which answers have already been given.
Has the department, during presentations before other groups or other committees, used some kind of chart to compare the legislation as it currently stands and the proposed amendments? In other words, is there some kind of road map for this bill that will allow us to navigate it, given that this will likely become rather complex as we move ahead?
Director, Regulatory Services, Civil Aviation, Department of Transport
We have prepared what we call an administrative consolidation. We have taken the current act and superimposed the new proposed changes, identifying them with grey shading. It gives you an idea. We could provide this kind of document to the committee to give you an idea of the current legislation and the proposed amendments.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
That would be very useful.
My second question is to you, Mr. Chairman, if I may.
Did the committee discuss the possibility of hiring an expert in air transportation who would be able to do the appropriate research as regards the proposals before us?
I do not in any way want to undermine the abilities of the committee staff, but it is a regular occurrence, when an in-depth study such as this one seems to be is undertaken, that a committee resort to additional expertise. Was this considered by the committee?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
I don't think it was necessarily excluded in our discussions. We'd certainly be prepared as a subcommittee or a committee to take names and put them forward.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
Thank you.
Just out of curiosity, a document was distributed today that is entitled: “NOTES D'ALLOCUTION, 2e lecture“, and in English, “SPEAKING NOTES, 2nd reading”.
Where do these notes come from? Are they from Transport Canada? I have the impression these notes were prepared for a minister or for a parliamentary secretary. Do you know what I am talking about?
Director, Regulatory Services, Civil Aviation, Department of Transport
I believe you are referring to Mr. Preuss's speech.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
It is not Mr. Preuss's speech. In English, the title is as follows:
“Speaking Notes, 2nd Reading, Amendments to the Aeronautics Act”. Then it says it was last modified today.
If this was for second reading, wasn't that in the fall? Why are we getting this document?
Director, Regulatory Services, Civil Aviation, Department of Transport
I do not have the same document as you.
Director, Regulatory Services, Civil Aviation, Department of Transport
All we have are the notes. There may be some parts of the speech that had been planned for second reading, but that is not at all the same document.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
We will have your speech in the committee's minutes. That is why I did not ask you for it.
Director, Regulatory Services, Civil Aviation, Department of Transport
No.
Conservative
Director, Regulatory Services, Civil Aviation, Department of Transport
I'm told it's an administrative mistake, and the actual speech from Mr. Preuss will be sent to you electronically.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
On consultations—I gather this has been going on now since 1998—were there two sets: pre-September 11 and post-September 11? Was there a change in the consultations? Did we resume them or restart them? Did that have an effect on the consultations?
Again, I'm new to the committee, but are there reports on these consultations, and are they available?
Director, Regulatory Services, Civil Aviation, Department of Transport
Yes.
We started to consult before September 11, and at that time the proposed changes were mainly the same as you see here, except there were more security amendments to enhance the security provisions.
When September 11 happened they decided to fast-track those proposed changes on the security side. That's why they withdrew them from our bill and fast-tracked them through the public safety bill. The rest are exactly the same as they were at that time.
We have consulted with the industry. We had an exchange of correspondence and incorporated some changes following their consultation. There are some documents, but I don't know if they are exhaustive.
Director, Regulatory Services, Civil Aviation, Department of Transport
We have some documents that may be made available, yes.
