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
No. It's pretty significant.
Conservative
Ed Holder Conservative London West, ON
Well, appreciating that the whole principle behind this is safety—
Conservative
Ed Holder Conservative London West, ON
—I applaud those initiatives if that helps to change attitudes. Let's hope it does.
Director General, Rail Safety, Department of Transport
Plus, if you look at it historically, since 1997 we've only prosecuted the railways 13 times. It's very costly. It's time-consuming. Sometimes at the end of the day what's being imposed on the railway is not much, so the administrative monetary penalties will speed up the process. It's going to be a lot easier to apply and—
Conservative
Ed Holder Conservative London West, ON
As a point of clarification on the penalties, where does the money go?
Director General, Rail Safety, Department of Transport
It's going to be administered according to the Financial Administration Act. Once it gets there, I don't know. It's not coming to us; that I know.
Conservative
Ed Holder Conservative London West, ON
Thank you for the clarity, and thank you for being our guest today.
Thank you, Chair.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
Thank you.
Seeing no further questions, I'll thank you, Monsieur Bourdon, for being here and for being frank and honest with us. We appreciate it.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
I'm going to ask the committee members to stay here. We have to make a change in the orders so we can nominate a new member from the NDP as vice-chair. In order to do that, I will turn it over to Alexandre. He has to run the meeting.
The Clerk of the Committee Mr. Alexandre Roger
We will now proceed to the election of first vice-chair. Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the first vice-chair must be a member of the official opposition.
I'm now prepared to receive motions for first vice-chair.
Mr. Watson.
Conservative
Jeff Watson Conservative Essex, ON
Thank you.
I would like to nominate Ms. Chow for the position of first vice-chair.
Conservative
The Clerk
It has been moved by Mr. Watson that Ms. Chow be elected first vice-chair of the committee. Are there any other motions?
Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?
(Motion agreed to)
I declare the motion carried. Ms. Chow has been duly elected first vice-chair of the committee.
[Applause]
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
Thank you.
Before we go in camera, we'll hear from Monsieur Coderre.
Liberal
Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC
Mr. Chair, I would like to make a suggestion. Since we have already worked on this bill and since I do not think—I imagine that it will be the same for the NDP—that we will have any amendments, I don't see why we would hold another meeting to do the clause-by-clause study of this bill. I suggest that we support this bill immediately and that it be sent back to the House immediately; that way, we can move on to other bills. If it is the wish of my colleagues, I think that we should immediately support Bill S-4 and send it back to the House in order to move on immediately to our other business.
NDP
Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON
I am fine with that in principle, but I understand that you have invited the Railway Association of Canada to appear on Thursday. To disinvite them might be a bit rude.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
I will clarify that. The Railway Association said they couldn't be here on Thursday, so it's plausible that we could do this today.
NDP