This problem is very serious. What has happened over the years is that as positions have been eliminated.... We had a previous deputy minister, Louis Ranger, come before this committee before he left and he addressed the staff shortage. So what we have is an inspector community left whose main role is SMS audit and those functions, and little to no time for direct inspections. That's very problematic. Transport Canada is the regulator. You cannot delegate that responsibility to the companies in the manner that it has become.
On June 5th, 2014. See this statement in context.