Transport Committee on March 9th, 2016

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount, QC]

Technically speaking, the Coast Guard comes under the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, the Honourable Hunter Tootoo. It is part of his mandate.

On the broader question of marine safety, there is an involvement from Transport Canada's point of view. Certainly if there is a problem associated with navigation, it is our responsibility. If rules are being broken by ships in the way they comport themselves at sea or in harbour, that is a Transport Canada matter.

Insofar as the state of the Coast Guard is concerned, I noted the remarks made by the CTA review. I've certainly noted them, but it is something that Minister Tootoo is responsible for at this point, so I would prefer to defer to him on your question.

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Central Nova, NS]

Certainly, Minister. Thank you.

Changing gears again, I'd like to focus on efficiency in our rail infrastructure. I note that the review discussed the grain transportation system. Earlier, in passing, I think you mentioned the phase-out of the DOT-111 tanker cars as well.

In part of your review of railway efficiency during your mandate, do you intend to consider the need for the increased manufacture of different kinds of railcars? Could you describe to me the process of the manufacture of railcars themselves?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount, QC]

I'm not an expert on the manufacturing process. Certain companies make tanker cars, and they have to conform to certain safety standards. We have talked a lot about the DOT-111s, which were the tanker cars involved in Lac-Mégantic. As a follow-up after that, the previous government worked with the United States. This is a critical part of the equation here, because many of our tanker cars go across the border and we have to harmonize our safety regulations. “DOT” means Department of Transport. It's an American safety regulation.

There's going to be a phase-out of the DOT-111s to what we call the TC-117. There's another kind of car, the 1232, but that's also going to be phased out. It's going to happen, depending on the kind of material that is carried, between now and 2025. You can't do it overnight; there are literally tens of thousands of these cars, but there will be a phase-out program so that the newer cars, which are much more solid in terms of being able to withstand a derailment, have a much lower risk of puncturing and exploding.

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Central Nova, NS]

Madam Chair, do I have any time left?

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

You have five seconds.

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Central Nova, NS]

I'll take that opportunity to say thank you very much

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Thank you.

Mr. Berthold.

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you very much, Minister Garneau, for appearing here today. I am pleased to see you.

First of all, I want to point out something that was pretty remarkable in the follow-up to the Lac-Mégantic tragedy. You offered your full co-operation, and I sense that you have a genuine desire to resolve this matter, but the public has certain expectations that must be met.

As you know, the people of Lac-Mégantic have very high expectations. Those expectations were created by the Prime Minister himself during the election campaign. In fact, he promised to build a bypass around Lac-Mégantic.

I think another serious problem has to do with credibility. Many people have come out and declared themselves to be experts on the matter. Some political parties have been very harsh and critical of Transport Canada over the past year. Today, the public is still worried. The people are still afraid of trains. We are not getting any answers. A little earlier, you mentioned that you are concerned about rail safety, but unfortunately, no one can give any timeframes.

How can you reassure the public regarding the current safety of rail transportation in Lac-Mégantic? Is there anything you can do to reassure people about rail safety? What can we do to help experts win back some of the credibility they have lost?

My second question will be brief. Has any funding been set aside in the upcoming budget to complete the bypass project?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount, QC]

You asked a number of questions there. I appreciate your commitment, since you represent the people of Lac-Mégantic. You and I have already had discussions on this issue.

The rail line that passes through Lac-Mégantic is inspected regularly. We know that this is very important, as it is throughout Canada. I know it takes a little time for people to be reassured after suffering a tragedy like the one that occurred in July 2013. It was literally a traumatic event.

New regulatory measures have been introduced since that time. As I mentioned, measures are being taken to make trains safer when they are left overnight, like in Nantes, for instance, which is 11 km from Lac-Mégantic.

We are also paying closer attention to situations involving hazardous materials. The kind of tanker cars that are used is going to change.

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

Minister Garneau, do you think informing the public directly on-site would be possible? As it stands, messages are coming in from all over the place. I think people need to hear your message directly from the people who are familiar with these issues.

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount, QC]

Regarding your invitation to go in person, as I said when I was there in January to take part in the opening of the downtown reconstruction office, I plan on returning in the spring. I am certainly available to take part in an event or a round table where I could answer people's questions and do what you are suggesting, that is, talk about the measures that have been taken and let people know that we are being extremely vigilant.

As for the issue of a rail bypass for Lac-Mégantic, as you know, a study is under way and it will take some time for it to be completed. We want to see the results of that study before making any definitive statements, because there will be significant implications in terms of the costs and so many other things. We want to wait and see what happens with that. However, I am available to meet with people, which is why I went in January to meet with the mayor and everyone who took part in the event. That was the second time I have been there.

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

If I understand correctly, then, if there are financial needs over the next year, your department will be there.

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount, QC]

In terms of financial needs, can you please clarify exactly what you are asking?

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

I think what the people want most is to be reassured. A progress report is expected in May regarding the study for the bypass. If resources are needed to move forward on this file quickly, it is our understanding that they will be available for the people of Lac-Mégantic.

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount, QC]

We need to look at the report before making any decisions. That is appropriate, since due diligence is required.

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

Thank you.

I will let Ms. Watts take it from here.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

You have less than a minute.

[Dianne Lynn Watts, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock, BC]

Okay, in that minute, I'll go to the second round.

The emergency response task force was set up in July 2014, and some recommendations have been undertaken. Is it your intent to continue to implement these recommendations?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount, QC]

Yes.

As you point out, there were 33 initially. Twelve have been looked at, and there may be as many as 40 before the work of the task force is over. We will be continuing even after the last meeting of the task force this month.

We do intend to continue looking at them, because we believe they performed an extremely important and valuable service by providing us with these recommendations.

[Dianne Lynn Watts, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock, BC]

Right, and that's because it's around the transportation of dangerous goods. Will you continue to report every quarter?

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

A short answer, Minister Garneau.

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount, QC]

We hadn't thought about specifically reporting every quarter, but I can assure you we're continuing to work on the recommendations. It takes a certain amount of time to look at all of them, but we'll end up looking at all 40 of them.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Thank you very much, Minister Garneau.

Mr. Hardie, for six minutes.

[Ken Hardie, Liberal, Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

We've gone through an era of deregulation, and another euphemism is light touch regulation. It would appear that's damaged public confidence in a lot of bodies in their oversight of things that are important, or dangerous, or both.

I have to go back to the question of my colleague, Ms. Duncan, a little earlier when she was asking whether or not Transport Canada will get into the business of direct involvement in inspecting railways rather than auditing SMS reports.

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount, QC]

We are inspecting them. That's part of our responsibility—