Transport Committee on Feb. 27th, 2020

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

Simply put, Canada is a trading nation. We trade with the rest of the world, and it doesn't matter if we have great products and great trade treaties with other countries: If we cannot get our goods to them in a reliable and efficient manner—and we are experiencing a challenge right now—then they're going to look elsewhere to get their products. It's a world where other options are available to them.

Through the national trade corridors fund, which is a $2-billion program that was put in place two years ago, we've already approved 80 projects. These are focused on removing physical barriers to the flow of trade across the country, primarily trains going to our ports and then on to foreign destinations, but trucking as well. It's so that we can get rid of bottlenecks where they do exist in the country. There are a lot of bottlenecks. We're the second-largest country on earth, and it also includes things like the St. Lawrence Seaway, which is an important trade corridor. That program is focused on trying to remove physical barriers to the efficient movement of goods.

You mentioned the regulatory side. The regulatory side is another impediment that exists in this country, and both the Conservatives and the Liberals have recognized this. We want to remove some of those barriers between provinces. It's not a straightforward thing, for example, for a truck leaving Halifax to be able to respect all the regulations in each of the provinces if it's on its way to the other end of the country, because there are different provincial regulations. Wherever we can harmonize regulations interprovincially in order to move goods more efficiently, that also helps with the reliability of our trade.

[Churence Rogers, Liberal, Bonavista—Burin—Trinity, NL]

Some of the comments you're making are in response to some of the great work the transport committee did last spring on the trade corridors study, and some of the things we submitted in a report. That's good to hear.

We also did a study last spring on bus safety. In your speech, you mentioned common goals for enhancing road safety, with an emphasis on school buses and improved training. I'm particularly interested in school buses. What kinds of improvements have we made for them?

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

I meet with my provincial and territorial counterparts about once a year. We met about a year ago, in January, and we all agreed that we were going to strike a task force to look at how we can improve the safety of school buses. As it is right now, school buses are by far the safest way for children to get to school—much safer than getting in the car with their parents. But there's always room for improvement.

This task force submitted its report, which is available online now, and they did an excellent job of pointing out some things we can do.

The fatality rate from school bus accidents is very low. Most of them, 80%, occur outside the bus. There are measures the task force proposed, four of them specifically for outside the bus, that are aimed at making it safer when the child leaves the bus or is getting ready to get on the bus, particularly if there is oncoming traffic.

We also looked at the question of seat belts. Seat belts are a complicated issue. It sounds like a no-brainer to put a seat belt in a bus, but it's more complicated than that. As a result, we agreed with the provinces and territories to do two pilot projects this coming year to look at the issue in all of its dimensions.

[The Chair, Liberal, Vance Badawey]

Thank you, Minister, and thank you, Mr. Rogers.

Mr. Barsalou-Duval.

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I would like to come back to the issue of the relocation of CN's rail traffic controllers. You made a commitment to rail safety in your speech just then. My colleague also asked you an interesting question on that subject.

You stated that the decision to consolidate CN's controllers in a single centre in Alberta was CN's to make. You don't seem particularly concerned about the issue. When the issue of the high-profile protests being held on rail lines came up, you said that it was a provincial matter. You didn't really do much in that respect.

If you were asked to do so, would you be willing to look into the issue of controllers being relocated in Alberta?

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

I said that the decision was made by a private company, CN. I never said I wasn't concerned about it. We've looked into it on our end because we're well aware of the importance of making sure that there won't be any risks to the safety of our railways.

Since you've been here for quite a while, you already heard me state that rail safety is my top priority. We've been in contact with CN, who, as a private company, is entitled to make those kinds of decisions. That said, it has assured us that there will be no impact on rail traffic control. As you know, we're living in the 21st century, and as such, rail traffic control can be done at a distance, from anywhere. The important thing is that rail traffic control be carried out in the proper language, and in this area, I am satisfied.

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

Based on what the controllers have told us, CN hadn't even completed its risk assessment when it made the decision to relocate its operations. Have you carried out your own independent risk assessment?

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

After speaking with CN officials, we're satisfied that they will ensure that rail safety won't be impacted.

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

Do you intend to do your own risk assessment related to this decision?

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

No.

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

No. Okay.

I have a question for you on another topic.

You've spoken a great deal about trade corridors. As you know, this is an issue that is very important to me because of the Port of Montreal's project to build a new container terminal in Contrecœur, in my riding.

We've been waiting on funding announcements for a while, now. Quebec is getting a raw deal as part of the national trade corridors fund. Barely 10% of the funds will be going to Quebec.

The project in Contrecœur is really worthwhile. First, I would like to know why the investment hasn't been announced yet. And second, is there an explanation for the delay?

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

As I've mentioned before, it was originally a $2-billion fund. We've already approved about 80 projects worth a total of $1.7 billion. It's an incredibly popular program. As I've mentioned, one of the funding criteria is that projects need to make transportation corridors as efficient as possible with the least amount of congestion. It all comes does to each project's individual merits. There is no predetermined proportion of the funds allocated to each province.

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

In your opinion, then, the project in Contrecoeur lacks merit?

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

You were there when the Infrastructure Bank announced a $300-million investment, contingent on an environmental assessment. That's not bad at all.

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

I agree with you, the Infrastructure Bank's investment is a good thing, but it would be nice if the national trade corridors fund could invest in the project, as well.

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

We've already invested in the port of Sept-Îles, in the port of Montreal and in the port of Trois-Rivières. So we've been supporting ports.

There have been two investments in the port of Sept-Îles, which has announced an all-time record volume of trade this year.

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

I understand that investments have been made in Quebec, but the fact remains that 10% of the funds is woefully inadequate. I would've expected you to be of the opinion that Quebec deserves to get a significant proportion of the fund, at least relative to its population.

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

We're listening, and we're accepting proposals. Every time a proposal is submitted, we assess it in order to determine its value and usefulness. If the criteria are met, then we're willing to go forward.

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

In your speech earlier, you mentioned environmentally responsible transportation, especially as regards marine transportation. You also talked about the oceans protection plan that you're working on with Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

I'm worried that, on the one hand, Canada claims to want to protect oceans, and on the other, it allows oil development in protected areas. Does that make sense to you?

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

The first thing I would bring to your attention is Canada's recent decision to support a ban on heavy fuel oil used in ships navigating north of the 60th parallel. Indeed, we're concerned about the environmental impact this would have in the north.

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

I'm talking about oil development in protected areas.

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

Which protected area are you referring to, exactly?

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

This is about your own government's marine protection rules allowing oil development in marine protected areas.

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

I would suggest asking the Minister of Natural Resources. The development of our natural resources falls outside my jurisdiction.

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

I completely understand, but you did say earlier that your mandate letter mentions the oceans protection plan, which is why I brought it up.

Still on the topic of the environment as it relates to transportation, there is an issue that has me very concerned in my riding, that of bank erosion along the St. Lawrence River. Does your government intend to take concrete action to protect the river banks?