Transport Committee on March 28th, 2007

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Thank you and good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities.

This is meeting number 42, pursuant to the order of reference of Tuesday, November 7, 2006, Bill C-6, An Act to amend the Aeronautics Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts.

Joining us today from the Department of Transport we have Mr. Merlin Preuss, director general of civil aviation. Thank you, Mr. Preuss, for being here today. Welcome.

As a person who has attended many of these meetings, you're welcome to make opening remarks of seven minutes. Then we'll go to rounds by the committee members.

Welcome, and please proceed.

[Merlin Preuss, Director General, Civil Aviation, Department of Transport]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Yes, it is indeed my pleasure to be here.

I will not burden you with a seven-minute speech but just respond directly to what I've heard are the issues before us.

I would like to thank the committee for giving me the opportunity to respond to allegations that I may have pressured inspectors, members of the Canadian Federal Pilots Association, to not appear before this committee. I'd like to begin by referring that at no time did I threaten inspectors or apply pressure to prevent them from testifying before this committee.

At meeting 35, a member of this committee indicated that he expected inspectors to appear here. It is my experience, which spans nearly 40 years of federal service, that inspectors rarely appear at parliamentary committees.

I anticipated that individuals and managers involved would have questions regarding these appearances since they have not been exposed to this process. I considered it my duty as a manager to ensure that if inspector witnesses were called, they and their managers were aware of their roles, rights, and responsibilities. That is why I decided to follow up with Mr. Holbrook.

I did call his office, but I was not able to speak with Mr. Holbrook and he did not return my call. I do not understand why Mr. Holbrook didn't follow up with me or my superiors if he had concerns about my request.

My sole purpose in making the call was to find out whether Mr. Holbrook intended to have civil aviation inspectors appearing with him, so that I might ensure that everyone involved knew of their roles, rights, and responsibilities.

At no time during this brief phone conversation with Mr. Holbrook's assistant did I make any threats regarding the appearance of inspectors before this committee. In fact, I've been working hard to create an environment both in the industry and in Transport Canada's civil aviation in which people know they can report issues and incidents without fear of retribution.

The safety management system regulations demand the creation of this reporting culture, and the disciplinary policy I have written into our civil aviation issues reporting system clearly demands the creation and maintenance of a non-threatening, blame-free reporting culture.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Thank you, Mr. Preuss.

Mr. Volpe.

[Joe Volpe, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr. Preuss, for coming before us to clarify the matter that was raised a few weeks ago.

I have before me, as I think other members might have--I know that the chairman does--a covering page with an affidavit by Kathy Marquis, whom I think you know. Am I right? Kathy Marquis.

[Merlin Preuss]

Kathy Marquis?

[Joe Volpe, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

The executive assistant to the Canadian Federal Pilots Association and its chair.

[Merlin Preuss]

I don't know her personally, but that sounds like the name of Mr. Holbrook's assistant. I can't confirm it.

[Joe Volpe, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

Okay. She says she knows you because of work in the past.

[Merlin Preuss]

Yes, she would have been at some meetings.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Chair, I have a point of order. Has this affidavit been formally tabled with this committee?

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

It came to my office about 10 minutes ago, but I see that it has been cc'd to all members.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

It should probably be formally tabled.

[Joe Volpe, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

We'll get a copy to everybody. It's not a problem. I mean, it's not a secret document. I'm just trying to pursue something.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

I am asking the clerk to provide Mr. Preuss with a copy.

[Joe Volpe, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

Mr. Preuss has a copy.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

And we are sending him one right now.

[Joe Volpe, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

So there you go. Relax, Mr. Fast.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

It's not a point of order, but it's a good point, Mr. Fast. Mr. Preuss will have the document that Mr. Volpe is referring to.

I stopped the clock. Your time will begin now.

[Joe Volpe, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

You're a good man. You'll be rewarded in heaven, I know.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

Don't bet on it.

[Joe Volpe, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

Now we're dealing with this place.

Let's just say that you accept that you probably know this individual. Okay?

[Merlin Preuss]

Yes.

[Joe Volpe, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

Thanks.

I won't read the whole thing, but apparently part of the affidavit says--and I'll read it, it quotes you: “Tell him that if he plans to have any Transport Canada employees with him”--before this committee--“I will have an issue with it. Did you receive my e-mail with my new cell phone number?” And so on. And: “Have Greg call me back on my cell phone. Fine.”

What did you mean when you said, “I will have an issue with it?”

[Merlin Preuss]

I think in my opening remarks I indicated what my concerns were. This is a new area for the inspectors and my managers, and I was trying to make sure that our folks were well aware of what their obligations were to this committee.

I was anticipating briefing them on what the requirements were from the Government of Canada's perspective. I was anticipating briefing the managers who were involved. And as it turned out, since Mr. Holbrook indicated that he would be appearing alone, I let the matter drop and was frankly quite surprised to hear it reappear here.

[Joe Volpe, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

If you were to say, listen, I'll have an issue with a Transport official appearing with you, the impression is that you would like to structure whatever information is coming forward from Transport officials. Is that a fair assessment of the perception?