Evidence of meeting #69 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 c-49.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Cam Dahl  President, Cereals Canada
Bob Masterson  President and Chief Executive Officer, Chemistry Industry Association of Canada
Jeff Nielsen  President, Grain Growers of Canada
Kara Edwards  Director, Transportation, Chemistry Industry Association of Canada
Fiona Cook  Executive Director, Grain Growers of Canada
Pierre Gratton  President and Chief Executive Officer, Mining Association of Canada
Joel Neuheimer  Vice-President, International Trade and Transportation and Corporate Secretary, Forest Products Association of Canada
Karen Kancens  Director, Policy and Trade Affairs, Shipping Federation of Canada
Brad Johnston  General Manager, Logistics and Planning, Teck Resources Limited
Sonia Simard  Director, Legislative Affairs, Shipping Federation of Canada
Gordon Harrison  President, Canadian National Millers Association
Jack Froese  President, Canadian Canola Growers Association
Steve Pratte  Policy Manager, Canadian Canola Growers Association
François Tougas  Lawyer, McMillan LLP, As an Individual
James Given  President, Seafarers' International Union of Canada
Sarah Clark  Chief Executive Officer, Fraser River Pile & Dredge (GP) Inc.
Jean-Philippe Brunet  Executive Vice-President, Corporate and Legal Affairs, Ocean
Martin Fournier  Executive Director, St. Lawrence Shipoperators
Mike McNaney  Vice-President, Industry, Corporate and Airport Affairs, WestJet Airlines Ltd.
Lucie Guillemette  Executive Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer, Air Canada
Marina Pavlovic  Assistant Professor, University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law, As an Individual
David Rheault  Senior Director, Government Affairs and Community Relations, Air Canada
Lorne Mackenzie  Senior Manager, Regulatory Affairs, WestJet Airlines Ltd.

4:30 p.m.

Executive Vice-President, Corporate and Legal Affairs, Ocean

Jean-Philippe Brunet

Do you mean staff of Transport Canada or...?

4:30 p.m.

Conservative

Martin Shields Conservative Bow River, AB

They're your words, not mine. You said the existing staff—

4:30 p.m.

Chief Executive Officer, Fraser River Pile & Dredge (GP) Inc.

Sarah Clark

Our issue is with the government staff.

4:30 p.m.

Conservative

Martin Shields Conservative Bow River, AB

I'm just taking the words you said. I'm trying to clarify it. You said the existing rules and regulations there the existing staff can enforce, suggesting that they weren't.

4:30 p.m.

Chief Executive Officer, Fraser River Pile & Dredge (GP) Inc.

Sarah Clark

We know of cases where they have not been. In fact, the SIU went through a case a few years ago where they were not being.... And we know that Transport Canada, as well as the other agencies, have struggled with resources to be able to enforce them, and also struggled with the coordination mechanism to make sure that vessel and that owner are complying with all of the regulations.

4:30 p.m.

Conservative

Martin Shields Conservative Bow River, AB

That's what I was trying to get at.

4:30 p.m.

Chief Executive Officer, Fraser River Pile & Dredge (GP) Inc.

Sarah Clark

Okay, sorry, yes. I apologize, and on your example of the Hebron project we understand that one of the European dredgers came in, did the work in a month or so, with a full foreign crew, even though they had a coasting trade licence.

4:30 p.m.

Conservative

Martin Shields Conservative Bow River, AB

And nobody knows that we're here.

So again, you believe that all the rules and regulations are there. There is existing staff. They just need to do it.

4:30 p.m.

Chief Executive Officer, Fraser River Pile & Dredge (GP) Inc.

Sarah Clark

We don't believe there is enough staff.

4:30 p.m.

Conservative

Martin Shields Conservative Bow River, AB

You didn't say that.

September 13th, 2017 / 4:30 p.m.

Chief Executive Officer, Fraser River Pile & Dredge (GP) Inc.

Sarah Clark

Sorry. We're not here today asking for money. There have been other groups under CETA that have asked for money for their industries. We're not asking for that. We think the money is much better spent within the agencies of the government to reinforce the ability to enforce those requirements.

4:30 p.m.

Conservative

Martin Shields Conservative Bow River, AB

Thank you.

4:30 p.m.

Chief Executive Officer, Fraser River Pile & Dredge (GP) Inc.

Sarah Clark

We think it's understaffed right now.

Thank you.

4:30 p.m.

Conservative

Martin Shields Conservative Bow River, AB

Thank you for clarifying that. I appreciate that.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

4:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro

Mr. Sikand.

4:35 p.m.

Liberal

Gagan Sikand Liberal Mississauga—Streetsville, ON

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Kelly asked earlier if you had been consulted. Now you're obviously here, but I heard a few mixed responses. You said this morning that you were speaking to Transport Canada, and I saw Martin saying no. So could we just go through the panel.

Have you been consulted for these amendments?

4:35 p.m.

President, Seafarers' International Union of Canada

James Given

I am going to try to give you an answer without giving you an answer.

I've had many meetings. Everyone of course knows my concerns when it comes to cabotage, and Bill C-30, and CETA, and Bill C-49, and China and whoever the hell else we have on the list, but when it comes to consultation, this is part of the consultation process.

4:35 p.m.

Liberal

Gagan Sikand Liberal Mississauga—Streetsville, ON

Excluding this.

4:35 p.m.

President, Seafarers' International Union of Canada

James Given

Excluding this?

4:35 p.m.

Liberal

Gagan Sikand Liberal Mississauga—Streetsville, ON

Can I get a yes and no because I have to split my time with my colleague.

4:35 p.m.

President, Seafarers' International Union of Canada

4:35 p.m.

Liberal

Gagan Sikand Liberal Mississauga—Streetsville, ON

Okay.

4:35 p.m.

Executive Vice-President, Corporate and Legal Affairs, Ocean

Jean-Philippe Brunet

Before they signed the agreement, we were not consulted at all, but for the implementation we asked several times for meetings. We got information meetings.

4:35 p.m.

President, Seafarers' International Union of Canada

James Given

Are you talking about CETA or Bill C-49?

4:35 p.m.

Liberal

Gagan Sikand Liberal Mississauga—Streetsville, ON

Bill C-49.