Denis Lebel

[Questions on the Order Paper, October 19th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, with regard to (a), the Minister of Transport must respond to the Transportation Safety Board, TSB, recommendations within 90 days. When the Minister of Transport receives a recommendation from the TSB, Transport Canada conducts a preliminary analysis of each recommendation and safety deficiency identified by the TSB. Based upon the findings of the technical analysis, the minister may accept and implement the recommendation as received; not support the recommendation because of various other considerations that may not have been addressed in the TSB investigation; or acknowledge that the safety deficiency identified by the TSB is valid, but can be addressed by an alternative means that achieves the same intent.

With regard to (b), the current status of outstanding TSB recommendations can be found on the TSB website: http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/recommandations-recommendations/aviation/index.asp.

With regard to (c), recommendations associated with watchlist items receive the highest priority. However, not all recommendations are feasible or achievable. For example, technologies may not exist or the intent may be achieved by alternative means. Recommendations that result in regulatory change may also require international harmonization, which could incur delays. Additionally, priorities must be established, resulting in some safety initiatives advancing ahead of others.

With regard to (d), each recommendation is on a separate timeline and the proposed solution varies depending on the complexity of the recommendation, the safety risk assessment, the level of industry acceptance, international considerations and the level of consultation required.

With regard to (e), Transport Canada’s responses and ongoing activities towards TSB recommendations are assessed annually by the TSB. These assessments are posted on the TSB website, usually in June for the previous year’s activities. These can be found at: http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/recommandations-recommendations/aviation/index.asp.

[Questions on the Order Paper, October 19th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, Transport Canada, TC, does not measure or keep records on matters identified in the question. The recent rail freight service review, RFSR, conducted from 2008 to 2010 includes independent studies on the performance of the railway supply chain. A summary of the RFSR is available at: http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/policy/acg-rfs-review-examen-sfm-rvw-eng-442.htm.

A summary of the independent studies is available at: http://www.qgiconsulting.ca/pdf/FulfillmentofShipperDemandandTransitTimeExecutiveSummary.pdf.

[Points of Order, October 18th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to correct a statement made by the member for Parkdale—High Park during question period. She made a comment saying that changes to the Navigable Waters Protection Act—

[Air Transportation, October 4th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be a Canadian and to be a member of this government.

If they want to compare Canada's economy to that of the United States, I think the answer is obvious. Canada has a system in which users pay to use air services. We will not use taxpayer money to finance the airline industry.

It is rich to hear them say that they want us to lower taxes, when they want to create a $21 billion carbon tax. They want to use that tax money to pay for this.

[Air Transportation, October 4th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, as I understand my colleague, the opposition is asking us to use taxpayer dollars to subsidize air travel. It is rich to hear the New Democrats on this when they want to create a carbon tax of $21 billion. They want to pay for it with that.

Here in Canada, we do not use taxpayer money to subsidize this industry. It is a user-pay principle system and we will continue that way.

[Transport, October 3rd, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, a big difference between our government and the member's party is that it wants to decide on behalf of the provinces and cities. We will never do that.

We have supported transit all across Canada with the gas tax fund. We have transferred a lot of money to the municipalities through the provinces in support of that. We are building a new infrastructure plan. They all know that we will be delivering it very soon. For the details of where we are going to get the money, we will have to wait for the budget. Everyone knows that.

However, the member can be sure that we will support transit across the country through the infrastructure—

[Rail Transportation, October 3rd, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, the amount of bulk product transported on that line has decreased considerably since 2008. The government is not to blame for this. That is just business; it is the global economy, supply and demand for various products.

This is a business decision made by CN. We are in talks with the province and with Canadian National to envision the future. However, clearly, the government cannot replace every business that uses those lines. We will do our job.

[Rail Transportation, October 3rd, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, our government has invested more in infrastructure than any other government in the history of this country. Of course, all infrastructure is being analyzed and reviewed in partnership with the companies that use that infrastructure. In order to be able to continue to operate, these companies need clients, passengers. We regularly analyze the services that are offered throughout Canada. We will continue to support infrastructure development.

[Airline Safety, October 1st, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, those statements are completely unfounded and are meant to scare people, which the NDP has a tendency to do.

Aviation safety is extremely important to our government. We are regarded as a model in many parts of the world. Many organizations, such as the pilots association and COPA, praise the Canadian system. We do not want to engage in fearmongering, but rather to find solutions. That is what we are doing.

[Airline Safety, October 1st, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, that is false. We do not have cuts in inspectors. Security and safety are very important.