Public Accounts committee  We are preparing the corporate plan now for the following period. In our conversation with Transport Canada, we will be seeking at least another three years, like the last one, or ideally a five-year plan, but not only on capital this time, but also on operating funding.

Public Accounts committee  No, not yet.

Public Accounts committee  Yes. Once the decision is made from a policy point of view that we should build a dedicated infrastructure for passenger rail, what we're suggesting is that funds are available outside of government. Public pension funds...and you saw it with the Caisse de dépôt in Quebec, with a $5.5-billion project.

Public Accounts committee  Thank you for the question and it's a very important one. As people, we assume, rightfully, that train services are safe, that it is the safest mode of transport for the users, the operators, and the general public. Therefore, at VIA it's a constant and daily commitment of all employees that first and foremost safety is paramount to our operations.

Public Accounts committee  Since way before the tragic incident that took place at the Barrhaven crossing a few years back, VIA, when it was just the user, not the owner—at the time the infrastructure was owned by the freight companies—indicated its concern about maintaining the grade crossings in that area.

Public Accounts committee  What I was leading to was the conclusion that we would like to see grade separation. We were suggesting it before we owned the track. Since we've owned the track, we've been asking for it and suggesting it, and we're still suggesting it. The reality of grade crossing construction is that it is a responsibility of the road authority.

Public Accounts committee  Last year, VIA Rail's deficit was about $311 million or $314 million. If the project cannot proceed, in five or seven years, the annual deficit will be $450 million to $500 million. The ridership, which was about 3.9 million last year, will fall to about 3.4 million or 3.2 million.

Public Accounts committee  I think these companies.... Obviously, CN is a former sister company as a crown corporation and it was the foundation of this country. Both have a social consciousness and a public policy mindset in some regard. Other than goodwill and good faith, there's not much that we can do.

Public Accounts committee  Thank you for the question. The arrival of the new government and it's March budget really give us reason to be hopeful. In a very short amount of time, the new government, as well as the new minister, did their homework and learned all about VIA Rail's situation. First, the government released funding for fleet renewal.

Public Accounts committee  Thank you for your question. There were two key dates in the implementation of the new system. The first one was October to be ready and then to be ready for audit April 1. We were ready in both cases. The system was in place by October 1. We were ready for audit on April 1. We were informed recently that the audit will take place in the fall, in September 2016, I believe.

Public Accounts committee  It is. There are two aspects to the safety management system. One is education and information of employees so that it is integrated into the operation. The other one is documentation of measures and actions taken on a day-to-day basis. On the first one, we have in the course of the last year, launched under the leadership of Bruno, an extensive education exercise within our workforce, auditing different areas of the business, making sure that the operational realities reflect the new SMS requirements.

Public Accounts committee  We share your point of view. The only comment I would make, though, is that when it comes to the large class I carriers, the CNs and CPs, we argue with companies that are reputable and have their own imperatives that go to safety in terms of their merchandise and their people, so we rely on that fact.

Public Accounts committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As you mentioned, I am joined today by Ms. Jane Mowat, lead director and chairperson of the audit and finance committee; Mr. Bruno Riendeau, director of safety and risk management; and our chief financial officer, Madam Patricia Jasmin. At VIA Rail our mandate is to provide safe, efficient, reliable, and environmentally sustainable transportation services that meet the needs of Canadian travellers from coast to coast.

Public Accounts committee  —because they do it with sensitivity. We worked very closely with the Auditor General's office under the Financial Administration Act, on this special report, as we do every year on our annual report that is conducted by the Office of the Auditor General. The period covered by this report is November 2013 to September 2015, and therefore, over half of that period was not under my watch, but I assume full responsibility for its outcome.

Transport committee  That's correct. We make the request to our shareholders through the good offices of Ms. Borges and officials at Transport Canada, and then the minister and his colleagues, the cabinet, the Minister of Finance, decide in their budget to allocate the funds for the renewal of a fleet.