Transport Committee on April 18th, 2007

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

I understand, but have you already considered that?

[Jean-Guy Desrosiers]

No, not at all, because what we are currently concerned about is the 40 km/h speed.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Thank you very much.

I'd like to thank our guests for being here today and for providing us with information.

We have some committee business to discuss. I'd like to take a couple of minutes of adjournment while our guests leave us. Then we'll get back here to discuss the two motions.

Mr. Bell.

[Don Bell, Liberal, North Vancouver, BC]

I have one point as our guests leave. Mr. Fast had asked a question for confirmation about the incident of supervisors removing the bad-order designation. I did send over the confirmation. It was in the phase two report, which indicated that it was not uncommon for a car that had been bad-ordered to have a defect card removed by the supervisor and for the car to be allowed to continue in service.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Order, please.

Mr. Holliday, I know you have some documents you're going to leave with the committee. I will see that they get translated and distributed. Did you have one final thing, very briefly?

[John Holliday]

Yes, I'd like to thank the committee, and I'd like to invite the committee to go on a field trip to the Squamish and Lillooet subdivision of the former BC Rail to appreciate the terrain and the geography conditions. I can tell you that the former BC Rail had a comprehensive rock-scaling program. CN did no rock scaling for two years. BC Rail would scale a certain area--do rock scaling--and five years later go back to the same rotten rock area and scale it.

Regarding the question about future track and equipment standards and derailments and everything, I believe this to be just the tip of the iceberg in this country because of the lack of maintenance done in the last few years, and I think it's going to catch up awfully quickly. I think what we've seen lately is just the tip of the iceberg.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Thank you very much. I appreciate your attendance here today.

We'll recess for three minutes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Thank you, and welcome back.

I do want to advise the committee, just to give you a heads-up, that I've been advised that on Monday, April 23, the minister will be available with department officials on Bill C-6. I know we still have another opportunity for witnesses, but that was the day he was available, and I would seek confirmation that we can confirm him. Monday will be Bill C-6.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Is this including Mr. Preuss?

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

If he's here, he'll be here.

Go ahead, Mr. Julian.

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

Mr. Chair, we would then essentially suspend the railway inquiry for one meeting—

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Absolutely.

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

—but we still have witnesses to come on that. I'm fine with that day, as long as Mr. Preuss is there as well.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

It is the minister and department officials, so I'm assuming Mr. Preuss will be here. The minister is here for the first hour and the department is here for the full meeting.

Go ahead, Mr. Volpe.

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

What is his expectation? Is he going to be here on estimates, or is he here on Bill C-6?

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

He's here on Bill C-6.

I'll get to estimates later. We have him booked also; we have a tentative time for that.

But because it's Wednesday, I want to confirm with everybody for Monday. I just want to make sure everybody understands that it will be Bill C-6. It will be the department's and the minister's appearance on the bill. I'll get into this further; I just wanted to give you a heads-up for Monday, as to whether it's suitable.

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

How long is his statement going to be?

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

I have no idea. I don't control that.

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

Do you know, Brian?

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

Less than three hours.

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

Could we say five minutes maximum? Are you guys okay with that?

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

I don't think we can say that. I could say seven minutes, because that's what we give every other witness.

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

He's only going to be here an hour. There are seven opposition members who probably want to have an opportunity to ask him his views on the bill, and there are five members on the government side who probably meet with him for at least four hours a day every day of the week, so they don't need to ask—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!