Evidence of meeting #55 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 amendment.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:25 p.m.
Director General, Rail Safety, Department of Transport
Can I just add one more thing, Mr. Chair?
We're currently developing some crossing regulations as we speak, and one of the things we had to do was come up with how many lives we believe we're going to save, and how much property damage.
The only way we can bring that regulation forward is to justify that we're saving lives and saving some dollars, so it's already accounted for in the process we have to use. If there is no saving, it's very hard for us to push that.
4:30 p.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
My final comment, Mr. Chair, is to say that obviously this isn't going to hurt in any way, and if it adds an extra level of pressure on the government for safety standards, I don't see what the harm in adopting it would be.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
Thank you.
(Amendment negatived [See Minutes of Proceedings])
(Clause 13 agreed to)
(On clause 14)
We move to amendment G-3, on page 9.
Mr. Jean.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
Mr. Chair, I'm going to ask Mr. Bourdon to specify this.
My understanding is that this part of the act allows third parties to do work in respect of it, but because I don't have the whole section in front of me, I was wondering whether he could speak to amendment G-3 to clause 14, in particular to the “formulation or revision of standards or rules under section 7”.
I don't really understand, to be honest. I read it a couple of times and I was briefed on it, but I just don't—
4:30 p.m.
Director General, Rail Safety, Department of Transport
Do you mean the addition of “standards”?
4:30 p.m.
Director General, Rail Safety, Department of Transport
It was an omission. It's already in the act, but we forgot, when we drafted this, to include “standards”.
4:30 p.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
Mr. Chair, either there's an error or perhaps I'm misreading it. It says “section 7”, replacing “sections 19 and 20”.
Am I reading that wrong?
4:30 p.m.
Director General, Rail Safety, Department of Transport
You're right; there's a mistake between the French and English.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
Very good. I didn't even notice that, but there is a difference between the French and the English versions, actually.
You're right, Mr. Julian; it's sections 7 and 19 to 20. I don't understand that. Thank you for pointing it out.
4:30 p.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
Well, if we could go further, what do sections 7, 19, and 20 impact, then? I'll ask the government, what was the intention; was it to bring section 7 in?
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
I think the amendment itself was to....
Oh, I know why, Mr. Julian, if I may—
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
Yes, exactly. That is exactly why. That's why the French version has those words in it: in order to amend it properly for the legislation, the lines in the French version are longer. When they delete a line and add the new line, it has to be a complete version.
It makes sense.
4:30 p.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
I understand that, but I just want to know the concrete impact of adding section 7.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
It's not adding section 7. The only word that has been added here is “standards”. Because it already exists in the current legislation.... My understanding is that the current legislation says “formulation or revision of rules under section 7” and that what we're trying to add is “standards”. I thought that was what the witness indicated.
I have it in front of me, Mr. Julian. Let me just....
4:30 p.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
The way the bill is currently worded, it says “sections 19 and 20”. The amendment would add section 7.
I certainly understand the explanation around the lines. In French and English, the lines are lining up differently. But there is an addition of section 7, so I would like to know what the impact of adding section 7 is.
4:30 p.m.
Director General, Rail Safety, Department of Transport
It's because they added the word “standards”, and therefore they put “section 7”, because this is where it is.