Thank you, Mr. Lewis, Mr. Meisner, and Ms. Smith.
I'd like to compliment you on your committee. I sat in on one of your sessions. I'm very impressed with the work you've done.
There's a lot to cover here. In the beginning of your comments I think the priority you established is one that I heard during the hearings we had. The priority has to be the people, both the people who run the railway, who work it--the employees--and the people who are affected by it, the people who live in the communities through which the railways run. Second is the environment, and third is the profit or the operation of the railways. At times it seems it's the opposite of that. We were told that seemed to be a perception rather than a reality.
To get into the questions, on page 215 of your report you talk about resources for Transport Canada being inadequate, and you suggest as well that Transport Canada needs to rethink its approach. They're understaffed. You're suggesting the renewal of staff and experience in the rail safety directorate, and that the department rethink its approach to inspection and audit so that the skills and time of the inspectors can be more effectively used.
I'm wondering if you would care to expand on that.