Transport Committee on Nov. 9th, 2017

[Lori MacDonald]

Thank you for the question. Maybe I can start and then turn it back to my colleague in terms of any numbers or costs.

Earlier, I spoke about the oversight program that we have in place on the inspection program. We also have responsibility for marine safety and security. As part of that program we have a strong oversight system as well. At this time, we have approximately 350 oversight personnel in place. Much like in our civil aviation program, what we do is take a look at where we channel our resources and in what particular area, and focus on those higher-risk areas.

We also have a centre of expertise for enforcement. As part of that centre of expertise for enforcement, we work very closely with oversight to ensure that in fact for what we see and what we're assessing we have the capacity to put measures in place to address any of those issues—

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

But that's not the question.

[Lori MacDonald]

Okay.

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

It has to do with what you see and what you assess. Do you have the capacity to see and assess what's going on outside of Prince Rupert on the ocean?

[Lori MacDonald]

At this time we have sufficient resources to carry out our oversight and our enforcement program and we can come back to you.... I'll turn to my colleague to determine if there is one specifically identified for that program.

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

Last year we had an opportunity to visit Lac-Mégantic and look at the situation there. There are two issues. First of all, there is the status of the rail bypass, for which that community has been looking for quite some time, and there are also ongoing questions—deep concerns, in fact—about the level of rail and railway inspections.

Again, do you have the capacity to actually go out and examine short-line railroads such as that one and determine whether or not they're being operated and maintained in a safe way? As well, what is status of the bypass for Lac-Mégantic?

[Lori MacDonald]

On the first question with respect to the bypass, a number of studies have taken place. A decision hasn't been taken at this time. We're working very closely with the community. As you can appreciate, a number of lenses that have come onto this conversation with respect to what is most appropriate for the community. Those conversations continue.

With respect to the rail safety, we actually have a robust system in place at this time, both with rail safety inspection and with our transportation of dangerous goods. Both of those areas have significantly increased their oversight and the processes put in place with respect to monitoring the transportation of dangerous goods. Research and education are also included with the rail safety program for people working in direct contact with rail safety and the transportation of dangerous goods.

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

With respect to direct contact with the people working in the industry, again, how much of it is on-the-ground inspections versus SMS audits?

[Lori MacDonald]

We are on the ground doing inspections every day across the country on rail safety systems, and we're constantly doing SMS audits.

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

More of what? More SMS...? We get the impression that the needle has swung more to the SMS audit and away from on-the-ground inspections. Is that the case?

[Lori MacDonald]

I wouldn't say so. I don't have the numbers in front of me to show you the difference with respect to how much of each there is, but I would say to you that we work very closely with the railways and with our rail safety program to ensure that there are real, live inspections taking place on rail every day—both us and the railway companies themselves.

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

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Thank you very much, Mr. Hardie.

Mr. Chong.

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills, ON]

I'll pass my time to somebody else who has questions on this matter.

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK]

I will follow up on the previous comments in terms of the robust system in the transportation of dangerous goods.

I'm sure you're aware that in Bill C-49, there is an exclusion clause when it comes to TIHs. I'm wondering why an exclusion clause like that would have been put into that bill. We moved an amendment to have it removed because it didn't address the concerns around captive shippers that are shipping dangerous goods or chemicals that are considered dangerous.

If we have a robust system in the transportation of dangerous goods and we know we have another piece of legislation that governs it, why would we need to have an exclusion put into Bill C-49?

[Lori MacDonald]

I'm sorry. I don't have that clause in front of me. I can't reference it off the top of my head right now, but I would say to you that the transportation of dangerous goods system is constantly evolving. We're always looking at ways to improve that, including research, working with other countries on research, working with industry, and looking to improve the system. I can get some information on that particular clause and come back to you.

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK]

Thank you.

Ben, do you want to follow up on the question on the $25 million that you wanted to continue with?

[Ben Lobb, Conservative, Huron—Bruce, ON]

I can.

How much time do I have, Chair?

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

You have three minutes.

[Ben Lobb, Conservative, Huron—Bruce, ON]

Can anybody comment on the genesis of the transportation renewal on the voice and video recorders? Can anybody comment on that?

[Lori MacDonald]

Could I ask you to repeat your question?

[Ben Lobb, Conservative, Huron—Bruce, ON]

On the Transportation Safety Board, did they recommend that those be installed?

[Lori MacDonald]

Yes, they did.

[Ben Lobb, Conservative, Huron—Bruce, ON]

Who will manage the data that is collected on both the video and the voice?

[Lori MacDonald]

It will be a combination. We will regulate exactly what the requirements will be for putting the system in place: the type of equipment to be purchased, how the data will be collected, and what the parameters will be around that. The data will be used both by Transport Canada and by the Transportation Safety Board in different fashions, as well as by railway companies. There are different parameters around each of those pieces, including things like random sampling of the available data, but solely for the purpose of determining safety issues with respect to—