Transport committee  Transport Canada has not been able to maintain a schedule of follow-up that they have followed for number of years. There's been a gradual decline in the number of audits that Transport Canada has been able to conduct because of improper resources or an improper number of inspectors to do the job.

Transport committee  I don't know the answer to that question. My guess is that it would probably be about five years, depending on where the individual came from. If these people came from industry and had some technical experience and background, it's quite possible that the period of ramping up would be less than it would be for somebody coming in without that background.

Transport committee  That's right.

Transport committee  The department is definitely moving into an SMS mode. There are going to be inspectors who are required to have a certain level of expertise, but more and more people are going to become more generalist. You don't need the same degree of operational experience to be able to take a look at systems.

Transport committee  Sure.

Transport committee  One of your colleagues asked me whether we object to SMS. This was kind of the premise of your previous question, and I would have to say no.

Transport committee  Correct.

Transport committee  I'm happy to hear that Justice Moshansky's going to be coming to the committee, if I understood the chair correctly. Justice Moshansky will hopefully have an opportunity to talk to you about some of the contributing factors that were in place during the Dryden crash. His review of the industry went far beyond this being a problem related to de-icing.

Transport committee  I can look through some of my documents.

Transport committee  We do get some anecdotal information from some of our colleagues in other countries. I'd have to say that the feedback we've been getting has been—That's one of the reasons we're taking the position we're taking. They're concerned. The only problem is they feel that mistakes were made too long ago to make any changes.

Transport committee  Your question was whether I am aware. I don't have all of the details.

Transport committee  Certainly. I'd be happy to provide whatever information I can put together.

Transport committee  I mentioned in my presentation that these people have to be able to go outside the company when those safety concerns are not being taken seriously inside the company. But the way the current legislation is being proposed, my concern is that non-disclosure confidentiality is going to be compromised if individuals do decide to go that route.

Transport committee  What I can do is provide information that the department is already on the record as stating. This is why SMS is coming into place. It is really giving industry the responsibility for ensuring the safety of the system, despite the fact that the act itself requires the minister to— It was interesting to have an opportunity to have a number of discussions with Transport Canada.

Transport committee  Certainly.