Transport Committee on Sept. 11th, 2017

[George Bell]

The proposed mechanism is an investigatory one, mostly driven by the Transportation Safety Board. We'd much prefer to investigate proactively. We'd much prefer to investigate at a much lower level. The Transportation Safety Board generally doesn't get involved until there are some very serious consequences or probable consequences.

Yes, we would like to have access to the full suite of video with appropriate protection so that the information that the TSB gets is completely protected; but, yes, we would like to be able to look at any part of the record on an appropriate cue from our operators.

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Central Nova, NS]

In earlier testimony, Ms. Fox of the TSB indicated that there were two circumstances you could use this mechanism in, one of which is sort of your random systemic checks. The other is an investigation into an incident or accident where the TSB is not proceeding. Am I mistaken in my understanding that you would, in those near misses you describe, be able to go back and check the record under the proposed mechanism?

[George Bell]

My understanding is that it would be difficult, if not impossible. I would be happy to be wrong about that.

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Central Nova, NS]

I'm wondering if there would be any internal checks and balances in place to ensure that Metrolinx doesn't come across some kind of a vindictive manager who realizes that one of their employees is breaking the rules? Are there safeguards you would put in place as an organization to ensure that doesn't happen?

[George Bell]

Yes, indeed. We already have a very robust privacy protection system, and we would certainly make sure that there is no misuse of the system.

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Central Nova, NS]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Thank you, Mr. Bell.

Mr. Shields.

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I appreciate your being here today and I appreciate your information.

Ms. Southwood, earlier you referred to the engineering principles versus professional engineers, and you alluded to the fact that it isn't always the case that engineers are involved. Have you any idea of percentages or numbers? Have you anything to back that up?

[Jeanette Southwood]

We do have information to back that up. I don't have the percentages here with me today, but I can provide them to the committee following this meeting.

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

What is the cost implication of doing that?

[Jeanette Southwood]

I think there are several aspects of the cost discussion, and it's a cost-benefit risk discussion. We would need to look at what the risks are of not using a professional engineer and factor those into the cost.

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

That would be good to know, if you can supply that.

Good, thank you.

[Jeanette Southwood]

Thank you.

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

Mr. Bell, you talked about implementing a change six months ago. I understand that you have a contract piece here as well, but do you know if the process that went through included the people involved with this versus what they were doing before? Do you know how it was implemented, how it was worked with? Are you familiar with that?

[George Bell]

Yes. I wasn't there when the process was implemented, but I am familiar with it. It was implemented as an early response to what we saw as forthcoming legislation or regulation, and we explained that to our contractors. We explained our values, of which safety is paramount. They were able to buy into that. We were able to explain the process to their managers and then later to their employees.

We used, as we always try to do, some sound change management principles to make sure that we had buy-in to the extent we could get it from the front lines and all the way through the system.

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

You weren't there, but you found obviously that you were able to work that in a positive manner at the end result.

[George Bell]

Yes.

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

Thank you.

Mr. Orb, in regard to Bill C-49 I think I heard some concerns and some positives. If you had your choice, what would be the most positive thing you see out of this and what would be the change you would like to see happen?

[Ray Orb]

I think ultimately it would have to do with defining adequate rail service, and there would be reciprocal penalties. Those are the two big issues, I believe. Our shippers, our rural municipalities, and the farmers within are concerned about interswitching, but the two issues that I mentioned I think are the high priorities.

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

Is it possible to define that word?

[Ray Orb]

I think there has to be more time spent on that. I think there could even be—we're hoping—something put into regulations that gives a better definition of what that is. I think we need to have a minimum requirement for coverage.

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

Now you're getting to where I want to go. You want to establish some basic lines to go with the word. It's an adjective.

[Ray Orb]

That's a good point. I think it could be a timeframe perhaps, a quantity. We need to have a certain amount of railcar capacity. We mentioned that previously. That was one of the recommendations that came out of this committee as well that we agreed with, that the railroads needed to show ahead of time in any given crop year what their capacity is and how to be able to handle that.

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

As we move into this, the harvest is well under way in a lot of places and even finished in others. So how sensitive is this document to what needs to happen this winter?

[Ray Orb]

It's very sensitive because I believe the majority of the farmers would already have contracted grain through the grain companies or perhaps other modes of transportation to get that crop into place. That is really important. As I mentioned, a new crop year is already here. We're looking at an above average crop in this country. Our ability to get data from the railroads on a more timely basis—and I think even for our provincial estimates to be handled more expeditiously—will help the industry.