Good afternoon, everyone. It's a pleasure to welcome all of you here to meeting number 39 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities.
Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format, pursuant to the House order of January 25, 2021. The proceedings will be made available via the House of Commons website. The webcast will always show the person speaking rather than the entirety of the committee.
To ensure an orderly meeting, I would like to outline a few points to follow. First off, members and witnesses may speak in the official language of their choice. Interpretation services are available for this meeting. You have the choice, at the bottom of your screen, of either floor, English or French audio.
Members participating in person should proceed as they usually would when the whole committee is meeting in person in a committee room, and keep in mind the directives from the Board of Internal Economy regarding masking and health protocols.
Lastly, before speaking, please wait until I recognize you by name. If you are on the video conference, please click on the microphone icon to unmute yourself. For those in the room, your microphone will be controlled as usual by the proceedings and verification officer.
I will remind you that all comments by members and witnesses should be addressed through the chair. When you are not speaking, your mike should be on mute. With regard to a speaking list, the committee clerk and myself will do our very best to maintain the order of speaking for all members, whether they are participating virtually or in person.
Members, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the committee on April 27, 2021, the committee will now continue its study of railway safety and the impacts of railway operations on neighbouring properties.
I would now like to introduce and welcome our witnesses. First off, we have, as an individual, Bruce Campbell, adjunct professor, faculty of environmental and urban change, York University. We have, from the city of Thorold, Mayor Terry Ugulini. We have, from the Coalition des citoyens et organismes engagés pour la sécurité ferroviaire de Lac-Mégantic, Robert Bellefleur, spokesperson. We have, joining us once again from the Comité ferroviaire de Boucherville, Isabelle Bleau, city councillor, city of Boucherville; and François Beaulne, subcommittee chair. Finally, we have the following members from the Port Robinson Proud group: Jonathan LePera, Cliff Penn and June Wolfrath. I want to add that Mr. Penn will be joining us a little later on in the meeting. We have on our list Mr. George Marks, also a member, but George has fallen ill and will not be attending this evening.
We also have, from the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, Mr. Chad McPherson. Chad is a locomotive engineer.
Welcome, all. We're going to start off with Mr. Bruce Campbell for five minutes.
Mr. Campbell, you have the floor.