Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Chudnovsky, I want to get back to what you said about the safety management systems.
The committee is reviewing this issue and is facing Transport Canada who is trying to convince us of the advantages of its safety management system. The department says the system requires companies to add another layer of safety. But we know that Transport Canada has fewer inspectors to make the visual checks that were done previously. This is the situation we are now facing.
They want to implement safety management systems in the air transport industry. We are presently discussing this issue. You said that contracting out safety management to private companies without supervision is problematic. I can appreciate that.
However, I have somewhat of a problem with the B.C. government position. You said that stakeholders should take action. Last week, the mayor of Montmagny told us there were several accidents on a section of the rail line located in his municipality. He wanted the speed limit to be lowered. The committee unanimously decided to review the matter and to recommend that Transport Canada reduce the speed limit on a section on the line.
However, British Columbia covers a vast area. The B.C. legislature would have to give us a mandate. If the B.C. government is happy with the present speed limit, it would be very difficult for us to legislate in this area. A change in the speed limit could have an economic impact on the transportation of goods, passengers and so on. Given the area covered by B.C., I would agree to support you provided the B.C. legislature asks for specific regulations.
Why doesn’t the legislature do it? Otherwise, you will have to convince me to disregard the B.C. government who has higher standards. Up until now, according to what you said and what I read, the B.C. government never asked the federal government to change the regulations applying to this province.