I would point out that we have had a vice-president of safety before, back in 1996 at the very least, when Mr. Tellier was still representing the company, and a CN ombudsman of safety, although when Mr. Tellier left, so did those positions.
If they're reintroducing it, that's terrific, but the success of a committee, I find, is more from the participants on the committee and their experience and knowledge and training.