Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'd like to put a different slant on this, if I may. The hearts and compassion of all of us in this room, those around this table and others present, go to the families who lost members or others close to them at Lac-Mégantic. All of us feel that way. I think that's clear. I don't challenge the official opposition's motives in trying to get to the bottom of things and see things through.
Having said that, I think we're talking about timing. I thought Mr. Watson's motion was balanced and fair. I thought Mr. McGuinty's response to it was balanced and fair. It struck me that all of us are trying to do the right thing. We'll be measured by doing the right thing. The fact that we are back here in Parliament having this discussion rather than at Lac-Mégantic, which I know was an option suggested by someone earlier, I think shows some sensitivity, and I think it is appropriate.
We all try to make sense of something like this. When you lose people who are close to you, nothing can bring those folks back, but we have an obligation as members of Parliament to do our very best. Part of that comes back to the timing for us to consider this.
My deepest fear—and I think it was articulated well by Mr. Watson and Mr. McGuinty—is that anything that takes away from the work that needs to be done by those folks in the various studies that are taking place is inappropriate. I think we'd all agree it's inappropriate.
What has Transport Canada done? Mr. Chair, if you'll allow me, I think there are a few things we need to put into the record, because I think it is important that we acknowledge here that some actions are being taken. This comes from Transport Canada, which made an announcement about certain emergency directives to increase rail safety. As was referenced earlier, these were announced today. I need to share them with the committee. There are six points.
Effective immediately, the emergency directive requires all rail operators to:
Ensure that no locomotive attached to one or more loaded tank cars transporting dangerous goods is operated with fewer than two qualified persons on a main track or sidings; Ensure that no locomotive attached to one or more loaded tank cars transporting dangerous goods is left unattended on a main track; Ensure, within five days of the issuance of the directive, that all unattended controlling locomotives on a main track and sidings are protected from unauthorized entry into the cab; Ensure the directional controls, commonly known as reversers, are removed from any unattended locomotives, preventing them from moving forward or backward, on a main track or sidings; Ensure that their company’s special instructions on hand brakes are applied to any locomotive attached to one or more cars that is left unattended for more than one hour on a main track or sidings; Ensure that, in addition to complying with their company’s special instructions on hand brakes referred to in the item immediately above, the automatic brake is set in full service position and the independent brake is fully applied for any locomotive attached to one or more cars that are left unattended for one hour or less on a main track or sidings.
Mr. Chair, I'd like to offer this in English and French as part of the testimony today so we can get the precise wording in case my English isn't as good. The translation of my accent can be quite challenging. I'd like to submit that if I may.
Mr. Chair, what are we trying to do when all of this is said and done? If a government, and I mean all of us in government, is not responsible for the safety of Canadians, which is what it is expected to be, then we are not doing our job. I think Mr. Watson's motion is thoughtful. It doesn't presuppose that we are going to take away from the efforts and initiatives of the current review and investigations—and there are several—that are going on. I think that's our obligation as politicians who are elected to serve the people of this country. I think that's what we do. I hope we allow that to go on. There's nothing in what Ms. Chow said that might not be considered as we go forward with this.
Frankly, I think what all of us here are talking about is a question of timing. I think that's all we're talking in terms of. Let them do what they do, and then we bring all of this to bear. I think that's the thoughtful thing. I have a sense that it feels right; it balances the comments that everyone's made as we work towards doing the right thing.
I would hope that we would allow Mr. Watson's motion to pass and that we would be vigilant. We don't have a choice to leave this by the wayside. We have an obligation to be vigilant; Canadians expect no less than that. But I do think it is a function of timing and doing this right. It must be comprehensive.
I would like to make some suggestions about the official opposition's comments when they come back to this later. As opposed to presuming certain conclusions that might well come out of the reviews that are taking place and that might well be worth reviewing, frankly, if they are, I say we review them, and we study them hard. I think we have to do that. I just think at this stage that piece of it is not in the best interests of the people of Lac-Mégantic or Canadians.
Thank you, Chair.