Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you to our witnesses.
The railway panel commissioned a pretty comprehensive study. We've heard from Mr. Lewis in terms of his thoughts crystallizing this broad study down to something a little more functional for us to assess and to begin to make decisions on.
I posed a question. I presume you are familiar with the report, but I'll draw your attention to pages 73 and 74 of the report, where he talks about the continuum of a safety culture, the progression toward the full implementation of SMS, which would be stage five.
I asked Mr. Lewis to evaluate two things: at what stage are the railway companies, the industry itself--I think he indicated somewhere around stage two, maybe stage three--and as well, where the regulator is at, which is Transport Canada. I think the answer was about the same. I think kudos were given to VIA Rail, which he said was beyond that, maybe around stage four. It is much further along than the rest of the industry and the regulator.
I would like you to respond to Mr. Lewis's assessment. Where do you see yourself currently with respect to this continuum? What stage do you find yourself at, as the regulator? Where were you at two or three years ago? Have you made some progress? Were you stage two before and now you're stage three? Were you stage one before and now you're stage two? I'd like an honest assessment. I'd like you to respond to Mr. Lewis, first of all.