Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'd like to go back to the testimony of the former police officer who represents an association of 40 regulated independent schools that has been around for over 30 years. It's always difficult to hear about misclassification and corruption, especially when it's a matter of forged documents and bribed examiners. Imagine where that could lead us. Unqualified graduates get fake licences to drive heavy trucks. At the same time, it's a form of student exploitation. That's quite a mess to clean up. This has been dragging on for a very long time, and all of it directly contributes to the increase in the number of fatal accidents.
It's in our best interest for reputable schools not to close their doors, which could be very harmful to the ecosystem. It's also important to avoid losing qualified instructors, who want the system to work well and who must be protected. That's not to mention the underpaid newcomers who are deprived of their rights and benefits.
Still, some potential solutions can be drawn from this witness's devastating statements. First, there has to be more transparency when it comes to the connections between schools and motor carriers. That means it's important to monitor what goes on in the schools and ensure that it's being disclosed, so it can be properly regulated.
Two weeks ago, I met with representatives of a flight school in my riding. We had an excellent meeting. They're conscientious, they meet the required number of training hours, they have a code of ethics, and they ensure that every student follows the protocols in place. This training is essentially the federal government's responsibility, and it's also regulated for federal exams. On that note, having visited the school, I can assure you that corners aren't being cut. This training can cost up to $120,000 or $130,000 per student.
Flying a plane is an extremely important job, but driving a truck is just as important. The former Toronto police officer raised some issues. Of course, transparency and the disclosure of connections between schools and motor carriers is important, but unannounced provincial audits of program and equipment quality are just as important. It's also important to remember the sharing of vehicle information, which I mentioned earlier. If a vehicle is defective, no matter what province it's in, it's still defective.