Evidence of meeting #32 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 s-4.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Director General, Rail Safety, Department of Transport
We have already hired 56 people.
Director General, Rail Safety, Department of Transport
There are a total of 120.
Conservative
Director General, Rail Safety, Department of Transport
There are 33 in the regions and 23 in Ottawa for the programs.
Liberal
Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC
Apparently, if workers do not like something or have witnessed something, this bill would protect them. We call these people whistleblowers.
Conservative
Denis Lebel Conservative Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
Absolutely, sir. We must also remember that all companies will have to designate a senior executive accountable for safety and implement a non-punitive process to allow reporting by employees, to help us improve safety at each company and across the country in general, in partnership, as we do at present. Unionized employees who identify issues that can be improved in the rail safety system will be able to report them to their boss and to us without being subject to penalties. This is very important, because our approach is based on safety, and it adds the environment to our major concerns.
Liberal
Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC
We are talking about certification and penalties. If the bill passes—and it will—what will this mean with regard to the proximity of railways in urban areas where people live, for example, when they have to use grade crossings? We can impose penalties but what real impact will this bill have in those instances? Will grade crossings have to meet certain conditions? Can you give concrete examples of how this bill will improve safety?
Conservative
Denis Lebel Conservative Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
As you know, we have done significant work on railway crossing security, and we will continue that. Bill S-4 shows our determination to go forward to make companies even more accountable. Before, we made sure companies were insurable and that they worked in the railway industry. Now, to get their certificate, they will have to conform to our new safety standards. We will analyze every step of their security measures before issuing the certificate.
Obviously, sir, it is very difficult to control access in an urban setting. Unfortunately—and my condolences to the families—we have lost young lives even recently. These were young people walking on the tracks with headphones on their ears in the evening or at night. This is particularly dangerous. We have seen young people in Montreal cross two highways and jump over fences to go to a place where, unfortunately, a tragedy happened during the night. There were safety barriers, but, since then, an event happened in Montreal around the Turcot interchange. The company added safety fences.
With Bill S-4, our intention is to make sure that things will be even safer. However, we cannot hold everyone's hand. We already do a lot of education in the schools. We do more than 2,000 presentations per year in the schools and municipalities across the country to raise awareness about the danger of railway transportation for people on railways. Unfortunately, even now, lives are lost. It is always deplorable, but some people still jump over barbed wire fences that are 12-feet high.
Liberal
Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC
This means, Minister, that it does not suffice to have a document. The certificate is one thing. There will be a follow-up.
Director General, Rail Safety, Department of Transport
To answer your question, Mr. Coderre, I will say that in six to nine months, we will publish regulations on railway crossings that will better define safety for crossings and that will impose new standards for the industry.
Conservative
Denis Lebel Conservative Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
Let's talk about the money spent annually on railway crossings.
Director General, Rail Safety, Department of Transport
Last year, we invested more than $14 million in the program that helps railways and municipalities.
Liberal
Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC
I want to make sure that there will be a follow-up, because only imposing a fine will not solve this problem.
Director General, Rail Safety, Department of Transport
No. New regulations will be out in the coming months. They should be in the Canada Gazette before the fall.
Liberal
Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC
We now hear that VIA Rail wants to privatize some routes. What is the link between Bill S-4 and some privatization, or private companies? Will you still be able to apply this?
Conservative
Liberal
Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC
When it is a private company, you do not act, but not in this case.
Conservative
Denis Lebel Conservative Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
There are a lot of rumours. We will see what happens, sir. For now, there is nothing in the works in the short term. Of course, we hear ideas. We have information and we also have advice that allows us to see where the industry can go. However, this does not change a thing with regard to the safety aspect of Bill S-4. It seeks to strengthen our system's safety.
Director General, Rail Safety, Department of Transport
I just wanted to add that Bill S-4 increases accountability for railways. In fact, with this bill, provincial jurisdiction railway cars that use federal railways will be covered by the act, which is not the case actually.
Director General, Rail Safety, Department of Transport
And we also work with the provinces.