Evidence of meeting #66 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 shipper.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Annette Gibbons  Director General, Surface Transportation Policy, Department of Transport
Alain Langlois  Senior Legal Counsel, Team Leader Modal Transportation Law, Department of Transport

4:15 p.m.

NDP

Mike Sullivan NDP York South—Weston, ON

But that doesn't help the shipper.

4:15 p.m.

Director General, Surface Transportation Policy, Department of Transport

Annette Gibbons

The shipper can go to the courts.

4:15 p.m.

NDP

Mike Sullivan NDP York South—Weston, ON

Which is where they are today. Okay. So there's no real change.

4:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Larry Miller

All those in favour of amendment NDP-2?

4:15 p.m.

NDP

Robert Aubin NDP Trois-Rivières, QC

Can we have a recorded vote, Mr. Chair?

4:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Larry Miller

Mr. Aubin has asked for a recorded vote.

(Amendment negatived: nays 6; yeas 5)

As I already said, amendments NDP-5, NDP-6, and NDP-7 are also defeated with that, so you can strike those off.

Would someone like to move amendment NDP-3 on the floor?

4:15 p.m.

NDP

Robert Aubin NDP Trois-Rivières, QC

Yes.

4:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Larry Miller

Is there any discussion?

Mr. Sullivan, I'm waiting.

4:15 p.m.

NDP

Mike Sullivan NDP York South—Weston, ON

This is another situation in which if there is no term governing the determination of whether or not a serious failure has occurred, which can only be done in an operational sense, then we're saying to all the shippers and the railroads that the only place for them to seek recompense is through the court system. I want to just confirm that the only option available to them for damages resulting from failures is the court system.

4:20 p.m.

Director General, Surface Transportation Policy, Department of Transport

Annette Gibbons

That is the direction, yes.

4:20 p.m.

NDP

Mike Sullivan NDP York South—Weston, ON

Thanks.

4:20 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Larry Miller

Mr. Poilievre.

April 16th, 2013 / 4:20 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON

In western liberal democracies, where are contract disputes normally decided?

4:20 p.m.

Senior Legal Counsel, Team Leader Modal Transportation Law, Department of Transport

Alain Langlois

In the courts.

4:20 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON

In the courts, okay. Thank you.

4:20 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Larry Miller

Okay. All those in favour of amendment NDP-3?

4:20 p.m.

NDP

Robert Aubin NDP Trois-Rivières, QC

Can we have a recorded vote, Mr. Chair?

4:20 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Larry Miller

You'd like a recorded vote? Okay.

(Amendment negatived: nays 6; yeas 5 [see Minutes of Proceedings])

We now move on to NDP-4. Would somebody like to move it?

4:20 p.m.

NDP

Mike Sullivan NDP York South—Weston, ON

I'll move it.

4:20 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Larry Miller

Is there discussion on the amendment? No.

4:20 p.m.

NDP

Robert Aubin NDP Trois-Rivières, QC

A recorded vote, please.

(Amendment negatived: nays 6; yeas 5 [see Minutes of Proceedings])

4:20 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Larry Miller

We now move to LIB-5. I presume, Mr. Goodale, you'd like to move that.

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

Ralph Goodale Liberal Wascana, SK

Yes, I will.

4:20 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Larry Miller

Is there discussion on the amendment? No.

4:20 p.m.

NDP

Mike Sullivan NDP York South—Weston, ON

I'd like a recorded vote.

(Amendment negatived: nays 6; yeas 5 [see Minutes of Proceedings])