Lisa Raitt

[Rail Transportation, January 26th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, obviously our thoughts and prayers are always with the victims of that tragedy in Lac-Mégantic.

The Transportation Safety Board, we should also note, is an independent body that actually formulates its own analysis based upon the facts that they find in an accident.

What they found in this accident is that it was caused by somebody who was not following the rules, and the Sûreté du Québec is actually following up with criminal charges in this matter.

We have taken the report and recommendations of the Transportation Safety Board extremely seriously. We have responded on a number of things and will continue to work on this file.

[Points of Order, October 30th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order as well.

In my last answer for the hon. member for Ottawa South, I said the year 2004. Of course I mean the year 2014.

[Transport, October 30th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I knew of the defect from GM when we received the notice of defect in February 2014. I said that last year and I say that today as well. My officials told me the same thing. They knew of the notice of the defect in this fleet at that point in time.

Transport Canada inspectors were investigating an accident in June 2013. Through their investigation, they determined there was a problem with the ignition switch. After the notice of defect and the recall, they went back and looked at the accident again in a new light.

[Transport, October 30th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, as I said before, and I will be very clear on this matter, I did not know of a notice of defect from GM until we received it. I did not know about that until just prior to the recall.

I will also say that the officials have indicated the same to me. They were not aware of the notice of defect before then.

The particular incident to which the hon. member is referring is an unfortunate accident that happened in June 2013, an accident that Transport Canada investigated. In the course of its investigation, it took a look at why the air bag did not deploy when the vehicle went off the road. It came to the conclusion that the ignition switch was not part of the reason that the fatal collision occurred.

That said, Transport Canada reopened the case and looked at it again once it heard of the notice of defect to take a look at it in a new light.

[Rail Transportation, October 30th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, it gives me the opportunity to reiterate that on operational matters and rail safety, our department has responded, and has spent an increase of $1 million as compared to the year over.

Also, in terms of the department involved with transportation of dangerous goods, it spent approximately $2 million more to ensure we had appropriate people looking at these accidents, looking at these incidents and ensuring we had the right policies.

Quite frankly, Transport Canada is working very hard to ensure we get rail safety right in our country.

[Rail Transportation, October 30th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, in the Public Accounts that were published yesterday, actual spending was lower, but the reason why actual spending was lower than what was budgeted was because there was a reduction in the grade crossing improvement contribution program. Fewer people applied for the funding and, in fact, some of these projects came in under budget.

Most important though, if members continue to read into the numbers, they will realize that on the operation side, where the salaries and people are, we increased spending there by $1 million.

[Rail Transportation, October 30th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I very much value the recommendations, the advice and information we received from the mayor of Lac-Mégantic. She has been instrumental in ensuring we do what is right vis-à-vis the community.

We did speak to the mayor prior to our announcement yesterday. What she told us and told the media as well is as follows: “The town of Lac-Mégantic recognizes that the additional security measures announced today will make rail transport safer in Canada.”

Indeed, we will continue to work with the mayor of Lac-Mégantic and all municipalities to ensure we are working together on rail safety.

[Transport, October 30th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, with respect to this incident, in June 2013, Transport Canada did receive a report of a crash in Quebec where the air bags did not deploy, the vehicle went off the road late at night and struck multiple trees. Officials commenced an investigation at that time. They continued in their investigations. After the notice of defect was received by officials in February 2014, they went back and looked again at that fatal collision from June 2013.

That is the first time I learned about this accident or this investigation and the conclusions that Transport Canada reached.

[Transport, October 30th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, obviously with respect to this incident, our thoughts and our prayers are always going to be the victim of the accident.

That being said, I found out about the notice of defect in February 2014, as I have told the House. Now I am informed by my officials that they knew about the notice of defect as well at that time just prior to the recall by GM Canada.

[Rail Transportation, October 29th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, Transport Canada has a ministerial advisory council that deals with matters like this. This matter is being considered by that advisory panel at the moment, which is making sure that they cover off all issues with respect to operation and are incorporating it with respect to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. We will continue to have that discussion and move along.

In the meantime, we continue to work on rail safety and measures associated with rail safety. Our government has a great track record in that area and will continue in that way.