Evidence of meeting #16 for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was lauzon.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Peter Schiefke
It's very heartwarming as we move to the holidays. Thank you, Mr. Kelloway.
I'll turn the floor back over to you, Mr. Albas.
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Okanagan Lake West—South Kelowna, BC
The reason I connect it directly is that this motion, obviously, had some coordination...in order to keep your parliamentary secretary, because parliamentary secretaries are the decision of the Prime Minister; they're not the decision of the minister responsible. We've seen where it's been known that somehow the agreement with the Bloc on Bill C-9 has been.... The Prime Minister's Office said publicly in a news story that they weren't consulted. I certainly hope that's the case, because Mr. Kelloway brings so much to this committee when he's allowed to talk.
Mr. Chair, there is so much that I want to say in regard to this motion. I think that the Drivers Inc. part has been improved, so Conservatives can certainly support that end of it. Going to a port study, as I have said.... Considering how many reports this committee has done, we want to see the Drivers Inc. study go forward.
We have been listening to Mr. Lauzon and raising points of order on relevance and repetition so that we would get to the main motion. I understand how members could be frustrated, even with my discussion here thus far, which I would not say has been lengthy. It may feel that way to some members, Mr. Chair, but if we measured my time compared to Mr. Lauzon's time to make his points, I would say that I'm but a speck—a speck like a piece of sand in the ocean that Mr. Greaves did his beautiful video from. I'm almost in tears, Mr. Chair, because I miss Mr. Greaves. I haven't heard him for so long.
I would suggest, Mr. Chair, that in order for us to move forward, we need to see some substantive changes to this particular motion as it currently stands, so I formally move an amendment, and the amendment would add to the front end of the motion that's before us and go around. I'm going to read it out entirely from beginning to end.
I believe that our team has sent the clerk a translated copy so that it can be circulated, so perhaps everyone can read along. This is one amendment to the entire motion; we are not sending five documents as was done last time, which created much controversy.
November 25th, 2025 / 4:45 p.m.
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Okanagan Lake West—South Kelowna, BC
I'm glad to hear you say that, Mr. Chair. In fact, if you were to say publicly that there was much controversy, I'd appreciate that.
Here we go:
1. That the analysts prepare a report for the committee on the study of BC Ferries and that the committee review the reports of BC Ferries and the changing landscape of truck drivers in Canada once they are prepared by the analysts;
2. That, in relation to the committee's ongoing study of the financing by the Canada Infrastructure Bank of new vessels for British Columbia Ferries, pursuant to paragraph 108(1)(a) of the Standing Orders, an order be issued to Seaspan ULC to produce:
the report prepared by Shirocca Consulting at the request of Seaspan ULC regarding national shipbuilding capacity in Canada;
all correspondence between Seaspan ULC and British Columbia Ferry Services Inc. concerning or related to the acquisition of vessels;
3. That, given that the Minister of Public Safety, Gary Anandasangaree, and the former Minister of Transport, Chrystia Freeland, did not appear before the committee as part of the ongoing study of the financing by the Canada Infrastructure Bank of new vessels for British Columbia Ferries, the committee report their absence to the House;
Now we'll go back to the original motion, because I'm just going to read it here:
That the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure, and Communities request that the Departments of Transport, Revenue, and Employment, as well as the Prime Minister’s Office, forward to the committee clerk, within 60 days of the adoption of this motion, all correspondence, reports, emails, and documents relating to the issue of non-compliance in the trucking industry since January 1, 2022, and that Departments and Agencies tasked with producing the documents apply redactions as per legal obligations under the Privacy Act and Access to Information Act;
That the Committee add three additional meetings of two hours each as part of the study of the changing landscape of truck drivers in Canada, so that in the first meeting, it can hear testimony from victims of heavy trucks and representatives of Justice for Truck Drivers, The Caledon Community Road Safety Advocacy Group (CCRSA), and The Joy Smith Foundation; in the second meeting, testimony from representatives of 6S Trinity Transport, J+ R Hall Trucking, Dan Express, Carmen Transportation, Ludwig Transport Limited, Canada Post, and the Association des professionnels du dépannage du Québec; and in the third meeting, testimony from the representatives of BC Trucking Association, Ontario Trucking Association, Canadian Council of Motor Transportation Administrators (CCMTA), and the Alberta Motor Transportation Association;
Here is the new addition, Mr. Chair:
5. That, given the significant and persistent problems faced by VIA Rail passengers, including prolonged delays, community needs, and customer service issues, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee devote two meetings to the matter; that the committee invite the President and CEO of VIA Rail, representatives of CN, and the Minister of Transport to testify as part of the study; and that the committee report its findings and recommendations to the House;
The next part is just as was written:
That, immediately following these meetings, the committee, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), undertake a five-meeting study on what is needed to support, diversify, and modernize Quebec and Canada's ports to find new markets to reduce reliance on the United States; that the committee report its findings to the House; and that, pursuant to Standing Order 109, the government table a comprehensive response to the report.
7. That, given that,
significant staffing shortages and operational challenges continuously affect NAV Canada, and that kiosk failures and staff shortages are affecting the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), negatively impacting Canadian airports, airlines, and air passengers; and
in October, three Canadian airports were victims of an alarming cyberattack that hacked flight information systems and public announcement systems, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study of at least three meetings on the operational and security challenges facing Canadian airports, and gaps in federal safety and security regulations that affect airline pilots and airport firefighters; that the following witnesses be invited to appear before the committee:
The Minister of Transport, for at least two hours, separately from the Minister of Public Safety;
The Minister of Public Safety, for at least two hours, separately from the Minister of Transport;
The President and CEO of NAV Canada, as well as other competent NAV Canada officials;
The President of the CBSA, as well as other competent CBSA officials;
Representatives from Montreal International Airport;
Representatives from Vancouver International Airport;
Representatives from Winnipeg Richardson International Airport;
Representatives from Kelowna International Airport;
Representatives from the Air Line Pilots Association; and
Representatives from the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF);
And that the committee present its findings and recommendations to the House;
You're going to be excited about this one:
8. That, regarding the committee's schedule, it shall proceed with its work in the following order of priority, with the understanding that the Chair may deviate from this schedule provided there is consensus from all parties:
(a) Additional meetings on the study entitled “the changing landscape of truck drivers in Canada”;
(b) The study on VIA Rail;
(c) The study on the ports of Quebec and Canada; and
(d) The study on the state of NAV Canada and the CBSA.
Mr. Chair, I believe this has been sent to the clerk. I would like to be put on the list to speak to the motion, unless everyone is happy with this and we can just end today on a positive note so that everyone can look forward to the new year together.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Peter Schiefke
Colleagues, given the length and complexity of the amendments put forward by Mr. Albas, I'm going to suspend for a couple of minutes to make sure that we can get it circulated and that we can all understand what we're looking at.
The meeting is suspended to the call of the chair.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Peter Schiefke
I call this meeting back to order.
Mr. Albas, you had your name on the list. Unless you want to pass it over to somebody else to comment, the floor is yours, my good man.
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Okanagan Lake West—South Kelowna, BC
I think it would be helpful, Mr. Chair, if we heard from the other side on where we're going on this. I would ask you to drop me down the list.
Liberal
Stéphane Lauzon Liberal Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
We would like to propose just one amendment to item number 3. At the end, we would like to replace “the committee report their absence to the House” with “the committee reissue an invitation to appear”.
We aren't asking for any other changes. We would like to agree to Mr. Albas' motion as it stands.
Bloc
Xavier Barsalou-Duval Bloc Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I would like to add something to item number 5, regarding the list of witnesses. I believe that we're asking Via Rail and CN officials as well as the Minister of Transport to appear at both meetings. I would like to add to this list of witnesses the Coalition pour le retour des services d'un train de passagers en Gaspésie.
That's all on my end.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Peter Schiefke
Mr. Kelloway and Mr. Lauzon, would you like to comment on Mr. Barsalou‑Duval's motion?
Liberal
Stéphane Lauzon Liberal Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation, QC
Yes, of course. We discussed this matter. The organization is very committed to this issue, so we agree with this proposal.
Liberal
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Okanagan Lake West—South Kelowna, BC
Mr. Chair, I would like to separate the two motions because I think they are two very different propositions.
We support Xavier Barsalou-Duval's very sincere request to have that named. I can totally understand that. I think it would be considered a unanimous consensus motion for that to proceed, but I would like to speak directly to the amendment by Mr. Lauzon.
Should I do that now? What would you like to do?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Peter Schiefke
Mr. Albas, let me confer with the clerk to make sure we're following all the right steps.
Liberal
Stéphane Lauzon Liberal Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation, QC
Mr. Chair, I have unanimous consent to add the organizations that Barsalou-Duval just told us to add to my amendment.
Conservative
Liberal
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Okanagan Lake West—South Kelowna, BC
No, no, we don't agree to that. We should have UC just on this. It will instantly change my amendment.
I'd like to debate yours, and I don't want the two tied up.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Peter Schiefke
Okay. We have a request by Mr. Albas that it be moved to the amendment itself, not the subamendment.
Do I have unanimous consent for that, colleagues?
