Evidence of meeting #129 for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in the 44th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was passengers.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Angelo Iacono Liberal Alfred-Pellan, QC
Thank you for your responses.
I'll direct my next questions to the union.
You've been with Via for 25 years. Is that right?
Liberal
Angelo Iacono Liberal Alfred-Pellan, QC
I am an ex-employee. I was in labour relations, and I dealt with collective agreements 1 and 3, with maintenance as well as onboard personnel.
When it came to safety management plans and protocols, were they respected?
Director, Atlantic Region, Unifor
They kept them on board because, according to my understanding, it wasn't safe for them to detrain to transfer them to another train until they secured the scene and that situation.
It's never a safe experience when they're running out of water and facilities.
Liberal
Director, Atlantic Region, Unifor
I wasn't on board, as far as communications went.
You know, we always struggle, especially at our call centre, with people calling and looking for information. It's never easy for workers when they have to deal with these types of situations.
Liberal
Angelo Iacono Liberal Alfred-Pellan, QC
I know you were not on board, but after the event, you must have had some conversations with the employees on board. You may have also gotten wind of some documentation with respect to practices that day.
Do you have any idea about what types of communications were going around?
Director, Atlantic Region, Unifor
Well, what Mr. Coderre outlined is what we are hearing about. They made frequent announcements, as they do. They made announcements to the passengers with the information they had, which was very limited.
Liberal
Angelo Iacono Liberal Alfred-Pellan, QC
As a union representative, what measures have you taken, or what have you done, since the incident with respect to the employees concerned, especially the employees whose conduct was questionable?
Director, Atlantic Region, Unifor
I didn't hear that any conduct was questionable among any of the employees.
Liberal
Angelo Iacono Liberal Alfred-Pellan, QC
We heard in our testimony here today that there may have been an incident in the other car. As well, we saw a video going around of one of the Via employees lashing out at a passenger.
What action was taken by you or Via? What disciplinary measures were taken?
Director, Atlantic Region, Unifor
I'm not certain what disciplinary measures were taken.
All I can say is that it's a true indication of what happens in situations like this, when they're not prepared for what they are about to face.
Liberal
Angelo Iacono Liberal Alfred-Pellan, QC
Are you trying to say that you're not aware of any incident occurring that day?
Director, Atlantic Region, Unifor
I'm not aware of any disciplinary measure.
Liberal
Angelo Iacono Liberal Alfred-Pellan, QC
Not disciplinary measures.... Was there any incident between the employees and passengers?
Director, Atlantic Region, Unifor
I'm not aware of any misconduct on that day.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Peter Schiefke
Thank you very much, Ms. Murray.
Thank you, Mr. Iacono.
Over to you, Mr. Barsalou‑Duval. You have six minutes.
Xavier Barsalou-Duval Bloc Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Welcome to the witnesses.
It would've been nice to hear from more passengers today, but at least we were able to get Mr. Coderre, so I thank him for being with us. The passenger perspective is very important in a study like this. We heard what management had to say, we heard some of the workers' account from their representatives, and we heard the passenger view. Each account is a bit different, but I think we're getting closer and closer to the truth as we overlay the different versions of the events.
Mr. Coderre, do you travel on Via Rail often? Do you take the train regularly?
Bloc
Xavier Barsalou-Duval Bloc Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC
When the Via Rail executives were here, they called this an isolated incident.
Would you say it was an isolated incident? Do you often encounter these kinds of long delays when you take the train?
Passenger, As an Individual
Certainly, a 12‑hour delay isn't a common occurrence on a Via Rail train, but delays of an hour or two are fairly common.
Bloc
Xavier Barsalou-Duval Bloc Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC
Thank you.
The reports show that delays are a major issue for Via Rail. I realize that this was an extreme case.
You talked about what staff gave you. Trains 622, 26 and 24 were involved. You said you were on train 24. Is that right?
Bloc
Xavier Barsalou-Duval Bloc Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC
You were one of the passengers who waited more than 10 hours, then.
You said you were given a meal at the beginning of the train ride. During the delay, you were given snacks, pretzels and chocolate. Then, towards the end of the delay, you were given food when train 26 arrived.
About how much time was there between the breakfast you were given and the pizza you got with train 26?