Evidence of meeting #131 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.
Deputy Minister, Department of Transport
I think the provision, as colleagues have mentioned, of water, food and working lavatories is essential.
Therefore, as part of that escalation process, Via officials will decide at what point alternate transportation should...and when it can be fixed, and that assessment. They will do that in the second hour of the delay. They will take into consideration all of those things while making that decision.
Bloc
Xavier Barsalou-Duval Bloc Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC
If I understand correctly, you are leaving it to Via Rail to handle this situation. You do not intend to intervene, even though it seems fairly obvious to me that there are major problems there.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Safety and Security, Department of Transport
Personnel did order food for the passengers during the waiting period when they were on board the train. In case you would like to know, they ordered pizza.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Safety and Security, Department of Transport
It is up to Via Rail to handle this situation. We expect the company to organize things accordingly. However, I think this would be a good question to ask Via Rail representatives: What plans they have put in place to deal with this situation.
Bloc
Xavier Barsalou-Duval Bloc Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC
I understand that Via Rail manages its operations, but at some point it also falls within the portfolio of the Minister of Transport. Ultimately, Transport Canada regulates Via Rail. It seems to me that it might be worth getting that idea across to it. I think the minister would be in a position to do that. It seems to me that a word from the minister would certainly get Via Rail to listen.
I see my time is up.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Peter Schiefke
Thank you, Mr. Barsalou‑Duval.
Finally, today, we have Mr. Bachrach.
Mr. Bachrach, the floor is yours. You have two and a half minutes, sir.
NDP
Taylor Bachrach NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Transport Action Canada, in the wake of this incident, recommended that Transport Canada treat trains that are broken down—like the one in this circumstance—in a way similar to trains in a station. I believe there's a rule for trains in a station that protects them from other trains that might be on the corridor. It controls speed and that sort of thing. It protects passengers.
Is this something you're familiar with, and is it something Transport Canada is considering?
Director General, Rail Safety and Security, Department of Transport
I'm not familiar with that specific recommendation.
Generally speaking, there are procedures in place when a train comes to an unexpected stop or breaks down somewhere. There are emergency broadcast requirements through the operations networks and communications with rail traffic control centres to alert nearby trains. From a pure safety and security perspective, there are well-established procedures in place to ensure that a particular disruption doesn't cause a bigger safety issue or accident.
NDP
Taylor Bachrach NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Do those include speed limits on other trains that might be passing on adjacent tracks?
Director General, Rail Safety and Security, Department of Transport
They very likely do, but I can't say for sure.
NDP
Taylor Bachrach NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
I'll follow up on a question Mr. Barsalou-Duval asked a little while ago.
I'm wondering whether Transport Canada has analyzed the risk of fleet loss for the long-distance fleets, understanding that Via Rail is struggling to keep the old trains operational. There's a huge risk to service on those routes, and we don't have a timeline for the replacement of the fleet with new trains.
Has this been analyzed by Transport Canada?
NDP
Taylor Bachrach NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Oh, you have a date. That just came in. There we go. Thank you.
That's a long time from now. These trains are breaking down all the time, it seems. The CEO of Via Rail said their mechanics are performing miracles just to keep those old 1950s cars on the rails. Has there been a formal analysis by Transport Canada of the risk of service lost due to equipment breakdown on the long-distance routes? You can say if you're not familiar or if there maybe hasn't been.
Deputy Minister, Department of Transport
I don't have that. I'd have to verify it.
NDP
Taylor Bachrach NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Okay.
The last question I'll ask will be on behalf of our chair, because he's preoccupied with this question of army rations.
NDP
Taylor Bachrach NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
This is your question.
Do you see how that works, when you pander to the chair?
The chair was asking whether some sort of durable ration could be stored on board trains as a way of ensuring that people have enough calories in situations in which they unfortunately are stranded for more hours than there are regular rations for. Is that something that could be regulated through Transport Canada, or is that not something that's been discussed?
This is Peter's idea.
Deputy Minister, Department of Transport
I think we'd have to look at our legal authorities and where we can regulate. Again, I would suggest that this would fall under the operational remit of Via Rail. That is something I will raise with the CEO.
NDP
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Peter Schiefke
Thank you very much, Mr. Bachrach. You have one additional minute added to your time at the next meeting.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Peter Schiefke
I appreciate that very much, sir.
On behalf of all committee members, I want to thank our witnesses for appearing today and for providing testimony at this very important study.
Colleagues, before I adjourn, I want to remind everyone that the clerk will be waiting for witnesses for the study that was put forward by Monsieur Barsalou-Duval, which is the regulation of recreational boating on Canada's waterways. She's expecting those no later than Tuesday. If you could provide at least a preliminary list, she could get started.
When we resume after the break, we will be embarking on the clause-by-clause of the McKinsey study. Following that, we will be embarking on the four meetings for Mr. Barsalou-Duval's study and then the clause-by-clause on the accessibility study.
This meeting is now adjourned.
