Evidence of meeting #4 for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in the 40th Parliament, 3rd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was toyota.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Management and Crown Corporation Governance, Corporate Services, Department of Transport
Its budget for 2010-2011 will total $1.8 billion.
Bloc
Roger Gaudet Bloc Montcalm, QC
Does this have anything to do with airport security and automobile safety, for example, the safety of Toyota vehicles?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Management and Crown Corporation Governance, Corporate Services, Department of Transport
There are a number of reasons for the changes. First of all, our real property budget will increase because we want to purchase land in the Windsor area. In addition, the way in which the department is funded to cover operational costs has changed. Airport leasing charges which were formerly paid directly by airport authorities to the department are now paid directly to the federal government.
Some of the increases reflect the change in our accounting process.
Bloc
Roger Gaudet Bloc Montcalm, QC
Earlier, the Deputy Minister said that Transport Canada's budget was finite. However, do you think it would be possible to hire a few more people to improve security?
Deputy Minister, Department of Transport
I said that we don't have infinite resources. Nobody does. We have a good budget, and I think with the current budget that has been announced.... We have some security measures that have been announced, for example, in air cargo, which is important. We also got some resources in terms of aviation security for our regulatory functions. So yes, more resources have been added in terms of our security function.
NDP
Dennis Bevington NDP Western Arctic, NT
Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Madam Deputy Minister, I have a question for you. Do you approve all press releases from your department?
NDP
Dennis Bevington NDP Western Arctic, NT
So the press release that was issued on November 26 indicating that Transport Canada was working with Toyota on the issue surrounding accelerator problems, pedal problems, was not through your department.
Who would have issued that press release indicating that Transport Canada was pleased with the work they were doing with Toyota at that time on those issues? Not in January, but on November 26.
Deputy Minister, Department of Transport
Let me clarify about the press release in question. I think that was about the floor mats issue.
NDP
Dennis Bevington NDP Western Arctic, NT
It clearly says pedal in there. The pedal issue was the issue they were working on.
Deputy Minister, Department of Transport
Let me have a look at the exact wording, but the purpose of the press release was on the floor mats issue. The department puts it out. It's under our authority. It's just that I don't personally approve all communications products because they go out very fast and we try to make sure we're as efficient as possible.
NDP
Dennis Bevington NDP Western Arctic, NT
If that's the case, there was no follow-up with your department. If you're working with Toyota on the issue, then your department didn't follow up with Toyota over the next December and into January. Until the end of January there was no communication about where the floor mat issue was going.
Deputy Minister, Department of Transport
There were a number of contacts with Toyota on the floor mat issue and there were meetings, actually, so I'll ask Mr. McDonald to answer some of the details.
Gerard McDonald Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Safety and Security Group, Department of Transport
We had had communication with Toyota since September on a variety of issues. When they brought the floor mat issue to us in November, they decided to do an additional recall with respect to the Venza vehicle, and that was essentially the genesis of the press release.
NDP
Dennis Bevington NDP Western Arctic, NT
I'll just change to another subject: full body scanners. From the reports we received, the Kelowna testing had many, many false positive results. Is that the situation with these full body scanners? Their ability to actually detect is under some concern because of the great number of false positive tests that you are getting with them?
Deputy Minister, Department of Transport
Our colleagues from the CATSA organization have learnt from the pilot test that was done in Kelowna and they believe these machines are actually a good way to ensure we can detect things under the clothing. We can get you their false positive results. I don't have them, but I can get you those, if you wish.
NDP
Dennis Bevington NDP Western Arctic, NT
I would like to see those, yes, of course. You've just invested an enormous sum of Canadian taxpayers' money in these full body scanners. Even the Pope doesn't like them, and we have a situation now where we're putting in equipment that may not actually be that effective. If you were getting 70% false positive results from the body scanners at the Kelowna test, did you do other tests after that?
Deputy Minister, Department of Transport
Yes, CATSA has looked at these machines and they believe they are effective means--
NDP
Dennis Bevington NDP Western Arctic, NT
Did you do other tests in situ after those results came back from Kelowna?
Deputy Minister, Department of Transport
They did tests before we deployed these machines. It is not only Canada; a number of countries have been buying these. It's very important that we note it is recognized as a good alternative to physical pat-downs. It's accepted by the United States and many countries as a credible way of detecting unwanted material under people's clothes.
NDP
Dennis Bevington NDP Western Arctic, NT
The Minister of State mentioned Tom Ridge in discussions. Does that individual own shares in the company that produces the full body scanners?
