Evidence of meeting #48 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 video is available from Parliament.
11:25 a.m.
Liberal
Stéphane Lauzon Liberal Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation, QC
In a similar vein, you said it was the storm of the century and that these events were becoming more and more frequent.
In view of the climate change we are experiencing, do you agree that you need to update your protocols?
11:25 a.m.
Interim President and Chief Executive Officer, VIA Rail Canada Inc.
Thank you for the question.
Indeed, this has been happening more often, and not only in the winter. I am thinking about the fires in western Canada, as a result of which we had to interrupt services.
I said that we need to increase the resiliency of our transportation infrastructures, broadly speaking. I am not referring to rail transport alone; there are also challenges in air travel. It is time that we, as a country, take a look at this to reduce the impact of climate change on transportation in general.
11:30 a.m.
Liberal
Stéphane Lauzon Liberal Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation, QC
Thank you.
I am trying to understand. From the outset, you have stressed the importance of protocols, which will also be reviewed by a firm. We know that if passengers want to leave a train of their own accord, that is a last resort. Could you improve the protocol for passengers wanting to leave a train in such a situation?
Will you establish a clear and specific protocol, with all community actors taking part in its development, including the rail line owners, rail passengers and your executives?
11:30 a.m.
Interim President and Chief Executive Officer, VIA Rail Canada Inc.
The short answer is yes.
11:30 a.m.
Liberal
Stéphane Lauzon Liberal Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation, QC
Have you already started thinking about this?
Could you tell us today about areas to be improved, or are you waiting for the recommendations from this study?
11:30 a.m.
Interim President and Chief Executive Officer, VIA Rail Canada Inc.
We are not waiting for the results of the study. We have discussed this with CN representatives and executives as regards operations specifically. We want in particular to update our protocols so as to respond more effectively in situations where we have to do something to infrastructure that we do not own.
Those are among the procedures that are already being reviewed, but they will also be part of the complete overhaul of our protocols.
11:30 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Peter Schiefke
Thank you very much, Mr. Lauzon.
On behalf of the committee, I would like to thank Ms. Toporowski, Mr. Landry and Mr. Brankley for being with us today. On behalf of Canadians, thank you for taking the time to answer our questions.
That concludes our meeting.
Thank you.
The meeting is adjourned.