Transport Committee on Feb. 17th, 2022

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

Thank you for the response, although it doesn't quite answer my question.

In fact, I would have liked to see you make commitments on safety and timelines.

Your government had committed to opening the bypass in 2023, but many voices were raised to question that deadline. Even today, we see that the expropriation and acquisition of land has not been completed, the authorization by the Transportation Agency has not yet been given, and the plans have not been approved. In my view, groundbreaking will not happen soon, let alone commissioning.

Do you consider that the 2023 deadline for the commissioning of the bypass is still realistic?

[Omar Alghabra, Liberal, Mississauga Centre, ON]

Let me repeat, to be very clear: We are committed to building this bypass safely and as quickly as possible.

To your question, it's true that the process continues to require consultations and discussions, particularly with landowners where the bypass will have to pass. I'm relieved and delighted that all landowners who are impacted have received offers from the Government of Canada.

There are ongoing negotiations now on the acquisition of that land, the pieces of land that are required. We are committed to starting to build this bypass as quickly as possible. We're aiming to start this spring, late spring or early summer, and we want to complete it as quickly as possible.

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

Thank you for your reply.

If I had a message for you, it would be to say that people don't necessarily care about the deadline or the 2023 commissioning. But they do want to know what's going on and that the project is moving forward. I think that's the most important thing.

With that in mind, it would be interesting and important for the government to be transparent. If the 2023 deadline cannot be met, we would like you to say so and say when it will be finished. That would give people a lot more incentive and encouragement. This would avoid feeding cynicism and bitterness about the project. We also want guarantees that all safety measures will be put in place. When we see an oil project that appears to be more of a safety-related project, it can make us ask more questions.

It will probably not surprise you, but I would like to ask you about another project related to the rail sector. I'd like to talk about the Via Rail project, which your government launched with great fanfare last summer, just before the election. A call for tenders was to be issued last fall. According to several journalists and columnists, what is most frequent is not the train, but the announcements concerning this project. I think the formula is excellent.

I find it difficult to understand the direction your government is taking. You promised that there would be a tender in the fall. And yet fall has been over for several months.

What's going on?

[Omar Alghabra, Liberal, Mississauga Centre, ON]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I first want to thank my colleague for his thoughtful comment on how we need to proceed with Lac-Mégantic. I agree with him totally.

On the high-frequency rail, our government, as I mentioned in my opening remarks, remains solidly committed and behind it. Very soon you're going to see an announcement for phase two in the procurement process. Canadians will get to see what we are doing next, so stay tuned.

I understand that Canadians are anxious to see this happen. This is going to be the largest infrastructure project in modern Canada's history. It needs to be done right, and we need to make sure we do our homework, but I can assure you and everyone who is watching that we remain solidly committed. Stay tuned for good news in the near term.

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

I am happy to hear it, and hopeful that this will come to fruition, but you will understand our skepticism.

I have one last question for you that concerns the Transportation Agency—

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Unfortunately, your time is up, Mr. Barsalou‑Duval.

The next round of questions goes to Mr. Bachrach.

Mr. Bachrach, you have six minutes. The floor is yours.

[Taylor Bachrach, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, Minister, for appearing today. It's good to see you again.

I'd like to begin my questions in northwest British Columbia. It's been almost exactly one year since the tugboat, the Ingenika, sank in rough weather just south of Kitimat, taking the lives of Charley Cragg and Troy Pearson. In that year, there have been no answers for the families of these two men. There have been no answers about what happened to their loved ones. There have been no answers about what this government is doing to ensure the safety of mariners who go to work every single day on our seas.

In your answer to this question, I'd like you to address Judy Carlick-Pearson and Genevieve Cragg, the wife and the mother of the two men who died in this tragic accident. Can you tell them when they are going to get answers as to what happened and what you are doing to ensure the safety of mariners on our coast?

[Omar Alghabra, Liberal, Mississauga Centre, ON]

This is an extremely difficult situation. Let me start off by offering my condolences to the families. I can't even imagine how challenging and how difficult and painful this has been for the families. I'm grateful that they remain committed to not only getting answers but also to ensuring that others don't go through what their family member went through.

First of all, let me assure you that the investigation remains ongoing. Fisheries and Oceans and the Coast Guard are the lead on this. I'm looking forward as well to the findings of that investigation. On Transport Canada's side, we have been working hard to strengthen the safety of our tugboat regulations. We've been consulting, and we have been contacting all small tug owners directly to inform them about the new compliance program that we've implemented.

Mr. Chair, I want to assure you and my honourable colleague that we are very much committed to the safety of tugboat operators and to ensuring that everyone is following the highest level of safety.

[Taylor Bachrach, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Minister, Genevieve Cragg, the mother of Charley Cragg, has reached out to you on multiple occasions and asked to meet with you—not about the investigation into the incident but to share her thoughts on what can be done to improve the safety of the industry that her son worked in. Have you responded to Ms. Cragg, and have you accepted her invitation to meet?

[Omar Alghabra, Liberal, Mississauga Centre, ON]

I am always open to meeting with Canadians. There's an ongoing investigation right now, but I am very much open to receiving ideas and input and feedback about how we can, under Transport Canada, continue to strengthen our regulations and our rules to improve safety for tugboat operators.

[Taylor Bachrach, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Minister, your government still has contracts with Wainwright Marine, the company that these two men were working for when they died. In fact, that same company was involved in another incident just a few months later, when one of their ships ran aground.

Have you reviewed the contracts with Wainwright? I note that the International Transport Workers’ Federation has asked your government to suspend its contracts with Wainwright until it is satisfied that safety standards are being upheld. Will you heed their calls, and have you reviewed the contract?

[Omar Alghabra, Liberal, Mississauga Centre, ON]

As I said, I'm looking forward to the investigation and the findings of that investigation. I think it's really important that it's done. I can assure you I am extremely sensitive to safety and to ensuring that tugboat operators are operating with the highest level of safety.

[Taylor Bachrach, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Minister, shifting to a different topic, when your predecessor Mr. Garneau appeared before the committee over a year ago, he assured us several times that the Canadian Transportation Agency was an independent body that operated at arm's length from the government. Yet we just recently received redacted emails that show that on March 18, 2020, an email from Colin Stacey—this is one of your department officials—indicated that “Air Transat are telling us they're getting pressure from creditors who are pushing on the airlines for cash. They will request that we officially let them provide vouchers to passengers instead of providing them cash because they literally do not have enough cash to give refunds.” This is a department official essentially lobbying the CTA and doing the bidding of Canada's big airlines.

Then, on March 23—this is someone from your own office—the then transport minister's chief of staff took part in a call with the CTA and Transport Canada's deputy minister to discuss vouchers.

Section 39 of the CTA's code of conduct states that “Members shall not communicate with political actors or officials of other federal departments and agencies...regarding a matter that is, was, or could be before the Agency.” Just days later, the CTA released its statement on vouchers.

Did Transport Canada breach the code?

[Omar Alghabra, Liberal, Mississauga Centre, ON]

Mr. Chair, first let me correct myself. I said the investigation is being managed by the Coast Guard. It is headed by the Transportation Safety Board.

Second, to your question, look, organizations that operate at arm's length make their decisions independently, but it is common for the Government of Canada to express its priorities to them and to have discussions and consultations with them. It happens with ports. It happens with airports. In fact, I remember the NDP asking me to overrule Nav Canada on decisions it has made.

It's not uncommon, for the public good, that Transport Canada has conversations with independent agencies—

[Taylor Bachrach, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Minister, if I may, the code says—

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Mr. Bachrach, I'm sorry, the time is over.

[Taylor Bachrach, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Minister.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

For the second round of questioning, we will begin with five minutes for Monsieur Luc Berthold.

Mr. Berthold, you have the floor.

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I also thank my colleagues for allowing me to be with them today to ask questions.

I am the member of Parliament for Mégantic—L'Érable and I therefore represent the town of Lac-Mégantic, where this terrible tragedy that cost the lives of so many of our fellow citizens took place. Several years have passed.

Minister, thank you very much for your co‑operation. We do not agree on everything, especially these days, for example, on the mandatory vaccination for truckers. Since my constituency borders the United States, this has caused a lot of problems. However, there is one thing we seem to agree on, and that is the priority to be given to the Lac-Mégantic bypass.

Minister, in a few words, could you give us an update on the situation?

What exactly is the status of the bypass construction project and the discussions with the owners? Are the compensation levels acceptable?

Also, will homeowners have sufficient time and assistance to consider the offers that have been made by Transport Canada?

[Omar Alghabra, Liberal, Mississauga Centre, ON]

One disadvantage of attending virtually is that it's hard for me to see who's in the room. It's nice to see that you're here.

I also want to thank you for making sure that you're a vocal voice on behalf of your constituents to ensure that the bypass is built as quickly as possible and very safely, and that the input of community members is taken into account.

I've been personally involved in this since being appointed Minister of Transport last year. I visited Lac-Mégantic last summer. I've held several meetings with the mayor and neighbouring communities' mayors. I'm glad to report that all landowners who are impacted by the bypass have received offers for their properties. We will do whatever we can to reach settlements with all of the landowners.

Also, we are committed to starting the construction as quickly as possible, by this spring or early summer, to make sure the residents of Lac-Mégantic see how serious our government is about building this bypass.

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

Thank you very much for your reply.

I must stress, indeed, that there is collaboration between all the elected officials, who want this project to be done in the right way and as soon as possible. We are all aware that the 2023 deadline may be difficult to meet if we wish to reach an agreement with each of the owners.

Minister, do you plan to speak with your cabinet colleagues to ensure that the collateral or psychological damage that will be caused by the construction of the bypass is taken into consideration?

I remind you that the people who will be affected by the passage of this bypass are collateral victims of the 2013 tragedy. From the beginning, we have been asking that these people be treated fairly, that is, as collateral victims of that tragedy as well.

I know there is a need to be concerned about the landowners, but there is also a need to be concerned about the psychological damage, because many of these people have lost loved ones, family members or friends in this tragedy.

Are you planning to talk to your colleagues and also look into the possibility of this form of compensation?

[Omar Alghabra, Liberal, Mississauga Centre, ON]

Again, I'm extremely sensitive to the reality and the impact that the tragedy has had on the community and on the building of the bypass, but also the impact it may have on neighbouring communities.

I will continue to work with the honourable member and other members of Parliament, including members of this committee and including my colleagues. As I mentioned earlier, Minister Bibeau has been providing exceptional support and ongoing conversations with local community members and with landowners. My departmental staff will continue to listen and be sensitive to the needs and concerns of the community, and will take them into account as we are building this bypass.

I want to say this: I think there's unanimity in these two aspects. First is that we need to take local communities' input into account. Second is that we need to build this bypass as quickly as possible.

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

Minister, if members permit, I really need the support of all the members of Parliament to support the community of Lac-Mégantic. This was a big tragedy. I praise everyone who supported us in this project. This is very important for us to be able to go another step, so thank you so much to everyone who supported us.

Thank you very much, Minister.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Thank you, Mr. Berthold.

The next round goes to Mr. Rogers.

Mr. Rogers, the floor is yours. You have five minutes.

[Churence Rogers, Liberal, Bonavista—Burin—Trinity, NL]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Berthold, I can assure you that you have my support. Lac-Mégantic has my support.

Minister, welcome once again to our transport committee. I've served on this committee for some time, and it's always good to see you. You're always very open to attending the transport committee.

The last couple of years have been extremely rough on the air sector. We know the airlines, airports and travellers to small regional airports like the one I fly into, Gander, Newfoundland, have been severely impacted by COVID over the past couple of years. I know we've done some great things for these airports to try to keep them viable, so that they can still be there after COVID.

Minister, can you summarize for us some of the work that is being done by Transport Canada and by this government to help support and restart the air sector, particularly in rural Canada and for regional airports?