The bill deals broadly with two key areas, security and safety. Issues surrounding security have a wider context than would have been found several years ago. Canada has international responsibilities that demand that rigorous standards be established and met. Dealing with the requirements of our neighbour and largest trading partner, the United States, compounds the complexity of security requirements.
As a trading nation, we have no other option but to ensure that our transportation security is robust and accepted by our trading partners. As Canadians, we must also ensure that workers requiring security clearances are treated fairly and with sensitivity and that the regulatory framework respects that.
As for our charter rights and our collective bargaining and labour standards, we must also ensure that security clearances are universally applied with the same standards for all workers requiring security clearances. Teamsters Canada has fought for these principles for the past seven years. It has been a difficult fight, but we are starting to see light at the end of the tunnel.
Currently there are four main security clearance systems, either in place or proposed. The air model contains similar provisions to those contained in Bill C-9, without the express right of appeal if a clearance is rejected. The marine model is similar to that proposed in Bill C-9, though there have been concerns raised about that particular system as well. The air cargo security model leaves it to employers, and it is simply not robust enough for our trading partners and, in our opinion, violates charter and collective bargaining rights.
The free and secure trade card, better known as the FAST card, is part of a program designed to expedite handling of shipments between Canada and the United States. The FAST card leaves the security of Canadians in the hands of a foreign country and provides no appeal procedure; both factors violate Canadian charter and collective bargaining rights. For years the pretence was that it was voluntary, a similar claim to that of the air cargo security model. It is not voluntary if you lose your job for not complying. Forced consent is no consent.
The United States, however, recently demanded security clearance for truckers carrying dangerous goods—and the FAST card is the stop-gap. The FAST card is no longer voluntary. It appears that the government understands this issue and is dealing with it.
Bill C-9 deals with security clearance in a consistent manner and is consistent with Teamsters Canada's stated principles. It is our understanding that the transport security clearance will eventually be the model for all modes, that is, for all workers who require clearances.
We wish we could turn back the page of time to when such clearances were rarely needed. Given the harsh realities of our times, the best option is to have transport security clearances undertaken with sensitivity, and mindful of privacy rights, by a government agency with full review. If they do not fulfill that obligation, we are certain that redress will be swift by government and this House.
Safety is the main concern of Bill C-9, with the aim of avoiding problems and dealing with them when they occur. Teamsters Canada views this as both a public interest issue and one of the health and safety of workers. Truckers, locomotive engineers, maintenance of way employees, and warehouse workers are the first people impacted by the release of dangerous goods. They are the first responders.
Safety plans are meaningless without training. Response plans are meaningless without tracking of dangerous goods and planning for the inevitable accidents. Legislation and regulation are meaningless if they're not uniform in nature and are not enforced. Bill C-9 contains provisions that, if properly implemented, will make these amendments to the bill far from meaningless.
Teamsters Canada is also optimistic that we're finally turning the page on the so-called smart regulations built upon risk management, safety management, and the principle that government does not have to regulate or inspect because we can trust companies to do it right. The best example we found that shows where it has taken us is Mr. Greenspan's testimony before a Senate committee looking into the banking collapse in the U.S., where Mr. Greenspan pointed to his trust in robust risk management but did not fully account for the greed factor—oops.
The government has moved swiftly on the rail safety review. We recognize its willingness to place Teamsters Canada and other unions front and centre in the railway advisory council. Its commitment to rail safety was further evidenced by the action taken in the budget.
We hope that the government will deal with the issues and ongoing problems that have affected CN and CP for a great number of years, which could affect how first responders, locomotive engineers, and maintenance of way workers deal with railway derailments. Our railway running trade members continue to complain about inaccurate train documentation related to the number of cars in their trains. Our members inform us that trains are still leaving terminals with missing or extra cars compared with those listed in the train journal, which is basically the train manifest. This could lead to a number of problems, the worst being a dangerous car leaking at a derailment site and train employees and emergency first responders not being aware of the existence of dangerous goods in a car.
Transport Canada is aware of this and could expand on this problem before the committee.
The government also ensured that there were provisions in the amendments to the Aeronautics Act--which the previous Parliament dealt with before the House--that responsibility for the safety of the sector rested with this government and Parliament.
Teamsters Canada suggests one amendment to the bill. It is the inclusion of a provision in the proposed amendments to the Aeronautics Act, which the transport committee dealt with last year, to allow this committee and the standing committee in the other House to review regulations made under the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act. The final responsibility for the safety and security of the public and workers rests not with companies, industry, regulatory agencies, advisory councils, or bureaucrats; it rests with the government and our elected officials.
Thank you very much. We appreciate any questions you may ask us.