Evidence of meeting #39 for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in the 41st Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was marine.
A video is available from Parliament.
Director General, Transport Dangerous Goods, Department of Transport
I'd have to go back precisely and get that information for you.
Liberal
David McGuinty Liberal Ottawa South, ON
The report we have is that transportation of dangerous goods spent $12.7 million in 2012-2013. It averaged about $13.9 million in the three previous years to that. Where does the $20 million come from?
Director General, Transport Dangerous Goods, Department of Transport
What we've done over the course of the last year, in order to increase our oversight resources, has been reallocation within the department to be able to strengthen the TDG program.
Liberal
Director General, Transport Dangerous Goods, Department of Transport
I would expect so, but I can get back to you and confirm.
Liberal
David McGuinty Liberal Ottawa South, ON
Canadians follow the expenditures of the government. I've had people write to me and ask about this discrepancy, this difference, between $13.9 million roughly in three or four years and $16.5 to $17 million last year alone on advertising to help facilitate National Energy Board applications for pipelines, for example.
I'm having a hard time reconciling this. But that's something you may not be in a position to answer in detail.
It's unfortunate, Mr. Chair, because I know that my colleagues don't like the idea of asking financial questions, but we did miss meetings on November 6, 18, 20, and 25. We've started late this fall, as well. We suspended the committee. I guess the question is whether we are actually going to have an estimates process now, as we hurtle toward the last supply day in the House, which conceivably could be next week, Mr. Chair.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Larry Miller
Your time is expired, and I think you know the reasons committees were—
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Larry Miller
Well, I think you do, but regardless....
Mr. Watson, you have two minutes.
Conservative
Jeff Watson Conservative Essex, ON
Thank you.
Ms. Girard, thank you for pointing out the significant increase in the transportation of dangerous goods funding, a lot of that out of the 80% in efficiencies in the DRAP process that helps ensure that we have the robust regime we need, where safety actually matters.
I have a question related to the certification societies. Do they have the freedom or flexibility within their charters to determine which classes of ship they will in fact inspect, or must they inspect all ships within classes that you've determined they are supposed to be certifying?
Executive Director, Legislative, Regulatory and International Affairs, Department of Transport
In our current system, every ship above 24 metres must enrol with the classification society and be inspected by them. There are certain provisions. If a ship is too old, let's say, and was not built according to their rules, the ships can opt out or apply to us and ask not to enrol with the classification society.
Conservative
Executive Director, Legislative, Regulatory and International Affairs, Department of Transport
We do.
Conservative
Jeff Watson Conservative Essex, ON
You do directly? Okay.
You said earlier that you believe the system you've proposed satisfies the intent of the Transportation Safety Board's recommendations. Why doesn't it satisfy the full substance of the Transportation Safety Board? Is it not possible? Are there limitations on how you can do that? This will become an issue, no doubt, and—
Executive Director, Legislative, Regulatory and International Affairs, Department of Transport
Yes, I fully agree—
Conservative
Executive Director, Legislative, Regulatory and International Affairs, Department of Transport
Very briefly, a system that's fully audited and certified for every ship in Canada is difficult to implement at best, for the industry and for Transport as well, in terms of the resources that would be required to do that, without necessarily attaining the objectives so that they are met. We feel that what we are proposing will meet the objectives.
NDP
Mike Sullivan NDP York South—Weston, ON
I have a point of order, Mr. Chair, unless you.... I thought we were done there. Sorry.
Conservative