Evidence of meeting #4 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 goods.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
Jeff Watson Conservative Essex, ON
Okay.
What act or regulation covers dangerous goods across international bridges or through international tunnels, whether they're rail or truck?
4:20 p.m.
Director General, Transportation of Dangerous Goods, Department of Transport
The Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act and regulations apply.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
Jeff Watson Conservative Essex, ON
Are there any international bridges or tunnels where you're allowed to bring dangerous goods through or over them?
4:20 p.m.
Director General, Transportation of Dangerous Goods, Department of Transport
Yes, there are some that are allowed—
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
4:20 p.m.
Director General, Transportation of Dangerous Goods, Department of Transport
We don't make that determination. But often if they're privately owned, the owners of the bridge can decide whether or not they want to transport dangerous goods on their bridge.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
Jeff Watson Conservative Essex, ON
Does that have to be approved by anyone, or is it simply a decision that...?
4:20 p.m.
Director General, Transportation of Dangerous Goods, Department of Transport
We don't approve.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
Jeff Watson Conservative Essex, ON
Very good.
In terms of the inspection of trucks carrying dangerous goods, is that provincial? Is that federal? Who would cover that?
4:20 p.m.
Director General, Transportation of Dangerous Goods, Department of Transport
In terms of trucks found on highways, provincial inspectors will inspect them. But manufacturing facilities or testing facilities of trucks are done by the federally appointed inspectors.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
Jeff Watson Conservative Essex, ON
Are international trucks bound by the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act for classification and transport as well?
4:20 p.m.
Director General, Transportation of Dangerous Goods, Department of Transport
Yes, they are.
4:20 p.m.
Director General, Transportation of Dangerous Goods, Department of Transport
We both do, on each side of the border. As I said, they're aligned in terms of classification and standards.
4:20 p.m.
Director General, Transportation of Dangerous Goods, Department of Transport
We actually will look at the tank car per se. Whether they're provincial railways or federal railways, they're under federal jurisdiction.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
Jeff Watson Conservative Essex, ON
Is harmonization with the United States' standards a goal of Transport Canada—harmonization with respect to containers? Or is that not a focus?
4:20 p.m.
Director General, Transportation of Dangerous Goods, Department of Transport
It's under the Regulatory Cooperation Council. It's actually a goal for all types and means of containment that they are properly aligned—actually, also internationally.
If you think about air transport, for example, when an airplane comes from Asia, it needs to be compliant with the TDG regulations and the international requirements. So we try to harmonize as much as we can internationally and with our U.S. counterparts.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
Jeff Watson Conservative Essex, ON
In your opinion, can dangerous goods be safely shipped by DOT-111 cars? What are the possible risks with respect to DOT-111 cars? I'm talking about the new standards because new DOT-111s have been coming on line, if you will, in 2012 and 2013.
Can you comment on the DOT-111s?
4:20 p.m.
Director General, Transportation of Dangerous Goods, Department of Transport
As I indicated in my presentation, standards are developed through the involvement of industry manufacturers, regulators, government, and interest groups.
It was determined that the DOT-111 tank car could be used and is an appropriate means of containment to transport certain types of dangerous goods, like petroleum crude. We are always looking at and improving the safety features of a means of containment to make sure every dangerous good is transported safely.
As I said, we will publish the next standard quite soon. It will help with the safer transport of petroleum crude through Canada by improving certain safety aspects, such as thicker steel, protective head shields, and certain types of components that will make it better.
But we're always looking at ways of improving and of making sure dangerous goods are transported safely.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
November 27th, 2013 / 4:20 p.m.
NDP
Hoang Mai NDP Brossard—La Prairie, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for being here today.
I have some questions about inspections. I'm not going to talk about the Auditor General's report because we can't today. You mentioned that there are 35 transportation of dangerous goods inspectors. Is that for all modes of transportation, so rail, maritime and everything?
4:20 p.m.
Director General, Transportation of Dangerous Goods, Department of Transport
No. There are 35 inspectors for ground transport that focus mainly on railways and, as I said in my presentation, on manufacturers and producers, and testing and repair facilities. There are 15 inspectors for air transport.
4:20 p.m.
NDP
Hoang Mai NDP Brossard—La Prairie, QC
Please stick with the rail transportation industry because it's something that affects us a great deal at the moment. I have a lot of questions about it.
The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives said that there was one inspector for 14 tank cars in 2009, four years ago now. In 2013, there was one for every 4,000. Do these numbers make sense?
4:25 p.m.
Director General, Transportation of Dangerous Goods, Department of Transport
When we do our inspections, we don't count the containers as such. Instead, we conduct risk planning and determine which inspections need to be done.
