Evidence of meeting #28 for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in the 41st Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was regulation.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Executive Director, Canadian Transportation Equipment Association
Yes, and I think that's why they exist.
NDP
Alexandre Boulerice NDP Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC
That is great. Thank you very much.
I have to pull Mr. Poilievre away from his reading. It has been said here a few times that the government was often the problem in terms of innovation, and that the private industry was the only innovator. I think that your answers prove otherwise. Someone also claimed that he had received a list of innovations made in the transportation industry and that almost nothing was being co-ordinated by the government.
Do you think the fact that practically nothing is co-ordinated by the government accounts in part for the lagging innovation of companies in Canada, which is among the weakest countries, among the laughingstocks of the industrialized world?
Should we not play a leadership role in order to boost innovation in companies, especially transportation companies, like the ones you represent?
Executive Director, Canadian Transportation Equipment Association
I have to think that more could be done, and the government could help promote without spending a fortune, but coming up with ways to help push things along....
You're absolutely correct. There is a lot of work being done by various associations and groups to move technology forward. I sit on the SAE Truck and Bus Council, which deals with the standards they're developing right now. Their push is on what is new out there; what do we need standards on.
Industry is moving ahead, and we will continue. The only stumbling block is when we have something really good, it is helping, but the customer's not buying it. For one company to take the risk of sticking their neck out at those early adopter prices...there are not a lot of those who are willing to take that risk.
If government could help make that more palatable in the early stages and get over that hump to where the costs start to come down where it makes sense, that would help.
NDP
The Vice-Chair NDP Jamie Nicholls
I would like to remind Mr. Boulerice of something. Earlier, you made a comment about a committee member who was reading. Committee members often do work related to committee business. Without going so far as to say that we are not partisan, I would like to remind you that, in this committee, we are nevertheless comfortable enough to work together. So I just want to remind you that committee members often do their work during committee meetings.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON
I have a point of order.
To clarify and further support your comments, the book in question here is To Conquer the Air. It's the story of the Wright Brothers inventing heavier-than-air flying machines, otherwise known as airplanes, a little bit pertinent to the subject today.
NDP
NDP
Alexandre Boulerice NDP Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC
I will continue talking about our real topic of interest, which you expanded on.
You talked about the risk taken by companies that want to promote certain innovations and products. Recently, an expert panel published a report titled “Innovation Canada: A Call to Action”. One of the recommendations was to set up a venture capital fund administered by the Business Development Bank of Canada in order to help companies at all stages of the innovation process, from basic research to marketing.
There is a small assistance program for innovation marketing. It is almost meaningless: a few tens of millions of dollars. That is not enough to meet the needs of the whole Canadian industry.
Do you think that a venture capital fund administered by the Business Development Bank of Canada would be a good idea?
Executive Director, Canadian Transportation Equipment Association
We have a conference once a year. We try to include some business aspects and technical aspects, and we have touched on a related topic to that. At least the owners of the companies definitely are taking note.
I'm not familiar enough to be able to answer that really well, but I do believe there are some possibilities there, yes.
Conservative
Mark Adler Conservative York Centre, ON
Thank you, Chair.
And thank you, Mr. Moore, for being here today. It's a very informative discussion.
I wanted to clarify a few things. You indicated you have 500 members, roughly, in the association. How long have you been executive director?
Executive Director, Canadian Transportation Equipment Association
I started out working for Western Star Trucks back in 1983, and I've taken on roles all through the design, engineering, and manufacturing engineering, but a big portion was related after doing some work on brake system design as compliance engineer, compliance manager, and dealing with regulatory issues, recall, safety-related issues, that type of thing, through the final 10 to 12 years of that career.
After our friends at Daimler purchased the company and moved it quickly down to...well, two years later, in 2002, to Portland, shortly after 9/11, I wasn't too keen on moving and taking the opportunity they provided me to go to Portland. I accepted a job in Windsor, Ontario, as a forensic engineer, working for a consultant there, doing truck accidents all over North America.
Executive Director, Canadian Transportation Equipment Association
During that time I was actually on the board of directors of the CTEA as a Western Star representative, so I was very familiar with the association.
I probably enjoy this job as much as any job I've done, to be honest. I love the people. I love the—
Conservative
Mark Adler Conservative York Centre, ON
That really comes across.
On your membership, I guess you gauge their opinion on a regular basis. You're in close communication with your members. Assuming you are, what would you say their top three priorities are right now?
Executive Director, Canadian Transportation Equipment Association
Right now, to be honest, it's really survival with the economic recovery.
Executive Director, Canadian Transportation Equipment Association
Yes. I would say the economy, and maintaining cashflow and jobs. Cashflow has been a really significant issue. We have lost about a dozen members to the economic downturn, and unfortunately, in many cases, it was a cashflow issue.
Conservative
Mark Adler Conservative York Centre, ON
Given that the economy and jobs is the number one issue, was the federal corporate tax rate dropping to 15% a good thing for your membership?
Executive Director, Canadian Transportation Equipment Association
In general, I'd have to say that anything that helps maintain cash within the company is going to help.
Conservative
Mark Adler Conservative York Centre, ON
It helps build stronger companies so they can hire more people to work.
Executive Director, Canadian Transportation Equipment Association
Yes, and fortunately we can bring people back to work. Training people is a key area too, actually.