Evidence of meeting #51 for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
Thank you very much, Mr. Keenan.
Mr. Iacono, we have two minutes left, and you wanted to split some time with Mr. Sikand.
Liberal
Angelo Iacono Liberal Alfred-Pellan, QC
Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
My questions are addressed to Mr. Fauteux or Ms. Boisvert of VIA Rail.
You asked for additional funding to maintain your current activities. Does the amount of $867.3 million over three years announced in yesterday's budget meet that need, and how?
Director, Government and Community Relations, VIA Rail Canada Inc.
The funding that was announced yesterday in the federal budget will allow us not only to maintain our activities but also to continue to keep an eye on VIA Rail's strategic projects, the high-frequency rail project, as well as the renewal of our fleet. We are particularly happy with the news. It shows the confidence our government has in our management team as well as in the services provided by our employees.
Liberal
Angelo Iacono Liberal Alfred-Pellan, QC
Thank you.
What are your development priorities for the upcoming years?
Director, Government and Community Relations, VIA Rail Canada Inc.
As we mentioned in various ways at parliamentary committees, the renewal of an aging fleet of vehicles is important. It will allow us to ensure the viability of the corporation over the long term, and to increase the comfort and safety of passengers, like the four million passengers who travelled on VIA Rail last year. In addition, the high-frequency trains will allow us to offer more frequent trips to passengers travelling in the Quebec-Windsor corridor. It will ensure sustainable mobility and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Liberal
Liberal
Gagan Sikand Liberal Mississauga—Streetsville, ON
It's fairly long but I'm going to ask it regardless.
I notice that the budget acknowledges self-driving cars and drones. These are either innovative or disruptive, depending on how you look at them, but I'm happy that the budget acknowledges them. I just want to know what our plans are around that.
Could someone speak to that?
Deputy Minister, Department of Transport
The short answer is that I agree completely with you. I think a major change is coming. There's a lot of upside promised by both of those, and there is a lot of work going on in terms of regulation and new innovation programming in order to, if you will, seize the upside and protect against the downside.
The minister, as late as just two weeks ago, announced interim regulations for UAVs. There are more measures coming for UAVs.
Bill S-2, which I believe may be coming to this committee, has key provisions in it that will enable us, from the point of view of motor vehicle safety, to deal with new technology in cars. We see that as a key piece of legislation, enabling us to move forward while grabbing the upside and protecting against the downside of the disruptions that are arriving through both UAVs and autonomous vehicles.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
Thank you very much, Mr. Keenan.
To all of the departmental officials, thank you very much for coming here and making yourselves available today.
Thank you to the committee.
The meeting is adjourned.