Transport committee  I think the comment here, as I said, is this: federally regulated and provincially implemented. So, the experience in the IBT is, in fact, monitors, and we have them at some locations. Yes, it addresses most of the concerns. But with things like attempts of boards, depending on the province, wanting to cut education costs—not that any would want to do that recently—you end up going down the food chain, and you end up with our members and non-union drivers bearing the brunt of it.

Transport committee  Yes, but I'll address the low speed too, because since we've done the studies our science has changed. Let's just take concussions. A small five-mile-an-hour accident, with a small child hitting their head, on the egg-crate model, we know the damage that concussions can do today.

Transport committee  I was referring to the drivers, not the equipment. I agree with you on the equipment, yes.

Transport committee  I think it's more their concerns about the public safety of the children. They care about the children they're carrying. When they were talking about seat belts—

Transport committee  I think entrapment was the one they were more concerned about.

Transport committee  The ejection at low speed would not be a concern; it would have to be quite catastrophic. They were concerned that even in a low-speed accident, if the child is incapacitated—fire, or something happens—they want to make sure.... The reason for a monitor is to make sure that smaller children especially....

Transport committee  That is something, in our conversations, that we did not talk about, to be honest about it. We were more concerned about the day-to-day impact on workers. It is something I will make inquiries about and I'll be happy to get back to the committee on that topic.

Transport committee  There's a problem over the lifespan of the bus. For example, in a province where the buses have an eight- or 10-year lifespan, they sell those buses to other provinces where they have a longer lifespan. Theoretically, you could end up with children starting JK now and never seeing a seat belt in their life.

Transport committee  Clearly our position is that the driver can't be liable. The driver's job is to sit at the wheel and take care of the vehicle. From our experience—from members who do charter coaches for tourism, etc.—people put their seat belts on. Though I took part in those studies, my daughter was six and got on a bus, then got off the bus the first time, and said, “Daddy, I can't go on the bus.

Transport committee  The feds regulate; the provinces implement. If seat belts are to be mandatory, it must be done right or the introduction of regulations will lengthen the working day, fail to achieve safety goals for our children and complicate the lives of drivers. I do want to recognize Minister Garneau for having the courage to take this on.

Transport committee  Good morning. Teamsters Canada represents more than 125,000 workers in all sectors of the economy. Teamsters Canada is Canada's supply chain and transportation union. Teamsters Canada represents drivers in the coach and school bus sectors. In preparing our submission, Teamsters Canada sought opinions and thoughts directly from the shop floor of the members, and the experience of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters in states where seat belts are mandated on school buses.

Finance committee  The first comment is that to be very clear, part III of the Labour Code will not affect FETCO too much. Most of the large federal employers are unionized, and part III of the Labour Code deals with bedrock, base-level, non-union workers. There are provisions in the code...and we welcome the changes.

Finance committee  Good morning. Thank you for the invitation to appear before you on Bill C-86. My name is Phil Benson, lobbyist, Teamsters Canada. With me is Stéphane Lacoste, general counsel, Teamsters Canada. Teamsters Canada is the largest private sector union representing workers in air, rail, road, bus, couriers and more, in the federal jurisdiction.

Human Resources committee  To be clear, Minister Hajdu and the government deserve full credit for bringing this piece of legislation forward. We're suggesting some changes in the bill to deal with realities of the workplace and stuff that we do to make it better, that's all. It's something that must be dealt with, mental health.

Human Resources committee  Thank you for mentioning you met with the youth group. We are immensely proud of them, and a lot of people on the committee are moving up in the teamster ranks. I'm sure in a few years they will be serving our teamster members well: they're great leaders. Thank you for taking the time and meeting them.