Transport Committee on June 13th, 2006

[Andy Scott, Liberal, Fredericton, NB]

When I asked the question about when it didn't work, you went into the investigative part and said it was a challenge to do the investigation. I was thinking more on the compliance side. The idea here is that by virtue of your investigation, your recommendations, and others people's response to those, you have a role in that, because, you said, you post your response to their responses to make sure people realize and that people are watching. I was thinking more about compliance rather than about an investigation.

[Wendy A Tadros]

I think the very first issue was public awareness of who we are and what it is that we do. We're taking steps to try to bring that about. In any investigation, if you read the newspaper, you'll find that sometimes the understanding about who we are and what our role is isn't there. We're taking steps day by day to try to improve that.

As for the recommendations, we have a pretty good compliance record--if you want to call it that--as evidenced by the response, or the uptake, or the changes that are being made to advance safety as a result of our investigations. I think the record is very solid. We'd always like to move it a little further along.

[Andy Scott, Liberal, Fredericton, NB]

Can you give us a specific example?

[Wendy A Tadros]

Of what we would like to see?

[Andy Scott, Liberal, Fredericton, NB]

No, I mean of a particular case. You spoke about a case in which you were happy with the investigation, the reports, the response, presumably all of those things. I was looking for one, not for any purpose specifically but rather as a real-life example of a case in which things didn't work as well as you might have wished, so that we could look at it and say here is what might help so that things will work better the next time.

[Wendy A Tadros]

I'll give you an example. It did turn out with positive results in the end, but along the way the road was a little bumpy. It had to do with fishing vessels' stability. We made two recommendations following the Cap Rouge accident in the islands off of Vancouver Island. They languished for a while, and there was no uptake. We brought those concepts about fishing vessel stability back in the Ryan's Commander investigation and made an interim recommendation that said we want you to go back to Cap Rouge and we would like to see that recommendation implemented and have some interim measures for the fishing vessel stability. That has now been done.

[Andy Scott, Liberal, Fredericton, NB]

What time passed?

[Wendy A Tadros]

Two or three years, approximately.

[Andy Scott, Liberal, Fredericton, NB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Mr. Hubbard.

[Charles Hubbard, Liberal, Miramichi, NB]

I have one very quick question in terms of the trestles on the west coast. I know you've addressed those in terms of train size—the length of trains, and overall volumes they're having, and the number of engines they're using—but are you satisfied with the outcome that the two railways, in particular, have had in terms of their inspections of those trestles, and do you have some assurance that those old structures are meeting the safety needs of the 21st century?

[Wendy A Tadros]

The issue that we had with bridges wasn't necessarily the longer, heavier issue; it was the issue of maintenance, and it arose in the McBride investigation. We addressed those issues and said clearly in our report, and in our communications with the railways and Transport Canada, what we think needed to be done to improve the inspection and the record-keeping. Those steps have been taken.

[Charles Hubbard, Liberal, Miramichi, NB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Mr. Carrier.

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

On a point of order, Mr. Chairman, I just want to mention that there's another item on our agenda, namely the notice of motion tabled last Thursday. I just want some assurances that we will get around to discussing it today. Time is passing quickly. Since we've completed the first round of questioning, I ask that we move on to the motion.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Mr. McGuinty.

One last question and then we'll move to your point of order.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

I just want to come back to a question I raised earlier, just so that I understand this. The government is speaking now and your minister is speaking now openly about the appointments process to federal boards, agencies, commissions, and so on. I asked this question earlier, but I didn't quite understand the response. There are five board members at the TSB. Correct? And there are how many vacancies now?

The chair is a vacant position, or is acting—

[Wendy A Tadros]

I'm acting as the chair, and my understanding is that the position is going to be filled on a permanent basis. And we have one further position.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

Has the chair's position been officially gazetted?

[Wendy A Tadros]

Yes, it was last Saturday.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

Was a head-hunting agency engaged by the TSB or by the PCO to interview potential candidates?

[Wendy A Tadros]

It's their process; it's not our process. So I didn't hear that; it's not our process.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

So we don't know whether an outside agency was retained by PCO? Or did TSB not retain an outside agency?

I used to head up an agency like this, and it was common practice at the time, when you were looking for board members, to hire a local head-hunting agency to sift through applications and generate options for consideration by, in this case, the GIC.

[Wendy A Tadros]

I can't speak to that, Mr. McGuinty.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

Mr. Kinsman?