Transport Committee on Feb. 17th, 2022

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

I'm sorry, Ms. Lantsman—

[Melissa Lantsman, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Oh, that's too bad. I wasn't looking at the coloured cards.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Mr. Fragiskatos, the floor is yours.

You have five minutes.

[Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal, London North Centre, ON]

Thank you. I'm replacing Ms. Koutrakis here, Mr. Chair. I guess you had one Greek on the committee and now you have another Greek on the committee. I'm glad to take part. I'll be splitting my time with Mr. Chahal.

To the officials, first of all, thank you for your work. I know it's been a particularly challenging time through the pandemic to now.

Tell me about the harmonization approach with the Biden administration regarding the trucker vaccine mandate policy, the importance of a harmonized approach with our American allies and how the outcome was realized.

[Arun Thangaraj]

I will pass this on to colleagues, but one thing I would like to underscore is that in all of these measures, we are guided by public health. We also do this in consultation bilaterally, especially in this case with the United States.

In the discussion about truck drivers and the vaccine requirements, those were fully discussed with industry and with our partners in the United States.

However, let me turn it over to Aaron to take that one on.

[Aaron McCrorie]

Again, these measures have been put in place by our colleagues at the Public Health Agency of Canada and CBSA, but the importance of ensuring a mutual approach across the border is to ensure that, for example, travel one way doesn't result in people getting caught on the other side of the border and not being able to come back. To the greatest extent possible, we have tried to coordinate with partners around the world. At the same time, we've had to put in place measures that sometimes are based on the unique circumstances of Canada, and we do that based on the science and expertise that is provided by our colleagues within government.

[Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal, London North Centre, ON]

Thank you very much for that.

Before I turn to Mr. Chahal, I know my constituents in London would want me to ask for an update on the progress of rail in terms of the connection that would see Windsor link to Quebec City. Within that, Londoners were quite excited when Minister Alghabra came to London to announce the government's intent to fund rail improvements that would see a higher frequency of service and a higher speed of service provided. Can you update me and the committee on where things stand with respect to southwestern Ontario and phase two as part of the rail policy of the government?

[Serge Bijimine]

As the minister said, the first phase of procurement will be launched very shortly. The first phase is meant to address Quebec City to Toronto. The second phase is also front and centre for us, and I have no doubt we are on the right path. The analysis, information and work we are doing around the southwestern Ontario corridor is advancing at a good speed. We're hoping to have some announcements in the near future, but it is definitely part of the plan. As the minister said when he went to London and Windsor, there are things we're looking at in the second phase of the project.

[Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal, London North Centre, ON]

I look forward to that process. There's a lot of excitement in London surrounding it.

I'll turn it over to my colleague, Mr. Chahal.

[George Chahal, Liberal, Calgary Skyview, AB]

I'm glad my colleague brought up the emergency bridges and tunnels act, because I guess provincial highways don't fall under that act. In Alberta, at the Coutts border, the highway is under provincial jurisdiction. Our Conservative premier, Mr. Kenney, didn't act, or was afraid to act on the illegal blockades. You stated earlier the loss. I can't put a dollar amount to the loss of the individuals who couldn't get to see their loved one who was dying, because they were stuck in the blockade.

Could you restate the dollar value of the loss? You said $3.9 billion...lost or deferred, but could you restate what you said earlier about the Coutts, Ambassador, Surrey and Emerson...?

[Serge Bijimine]

For the Ambassador Bridge, we're looking at $393 million a day, and it was blockaded for six days, so around $2.4 billion.

[George Chahal, Liberal, Calgary Skyview, AB]

Okay, and at Coutts?

[Serge Bijimine]

At Coutts, it was blockaded for 18 days, and the trade value per day was $48 million, so we're looking at about $864 million of lost or deferred trade.

For Emerson, Manitoba, the blockade lasted six days, and the trade value per day was $73 million, so we're looking at $438 million.

There was also the Pacific Highway blockade for three days, and the trade value per day was $81 million, so $243 million of trade lost or deferred.

Adding these numbers up, it's $3.9 billion in trade lost or deferred.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Thank you very much; and thank you, Mr. Fragiskatos and Mr. Chahal, for those questions.

Mr. Barsalou-Duval, you have the floor for two and a half minutes.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Thangaraj, I would like to know if there is any way to follow up in writing on the issues that my colleague from Mirabel shared with you earlier today.

[Arun Thangaraj]

Yes, we'll provide the response in writing.

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

I asked the minister earlier about the participation of the minister's then chief of staff, Mr. Garneau, in a meeting with Canadian Transportation Agency officials just prior to the release of the message on travel credits.

Is it common practice to withhold the presence of a chief of staff at such a meeting in response to an access to information request, or was it done on an exceptional basis?

[Arun Thangaraj]

As the minister said, as part of the role we have, we seek factual information. In developing regulations, these types of interactions are regular.

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

I therefore conclude that it is common practice to not mention the presence of ministerial staff members at critical meetings when there are access to information requests.

In 2020, two years ago, a request was made to the Canadian Transportation Agency to prepare an amendment to the Air Passenger Protection Regulations to ensure that passengers are reimbursed if their flights are cancelled.

Can you tell us the status of this request at this time?

[Serge Bijimine]

The application was published in part I of the Canada Gazette a month or two ago. The next step would be to publish it in part II of the Canada Gazette, but the date is not yet confirmed.

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

If I understand correctly, what was published in the Canada Gazette is the proposed new version of the Air Passenger Protection Regulations?

Is that correct?

[Serge Bijimine]

It is part of the process. In part I of the Canada Gazette, the government is asking for comments before adjusting and publishing a revised version in part II of the Canada Gazette. This second publication has not yet taken place.

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

All right, I understand.

This is not the final version; a second issue will be published in the Canada Gazette.

Does the coming into force coincide with that second publication?

[Serge Bijimine]

The second published version would be more polished than the first, but there would still be work to do.

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

All right.

I see I have no more time to ask questions.

Thank you for your answers, Mr. Bijimine.