Agriculture committee  The minister stated last week that the railways were both complying with the volume requirements.

Agriculture committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'll comment on the Canada Transportation Act review. Our minister has indicated that this review will be advanced and be commencing this summer. I'll let Alain Langlois answer the question with respect to the expiry of this legislation and the provisions a

Transport committee  The legislation provides for a regulatory authority that allows the insurance amounts and criteria—for example, the types and volumes of good hauled—to be amended by regulation over time, but there is no exemption from the legislation for the application of insurance.

Transport committee  Yes.

Transport committee  In terms of the amendment as it's written, it's broad in terms of how it would exempt the railway entirely from any insurance requirements, so it wouldn't be in keeping with the objective of the bill. My other comment is that there are specific circumstances that various railway

Transport committee  No, I'm saying there is a regulatory authority that provides for regulations. I can't comment on whether there might be or not.

Transport committee  I'm sorry. I'm not familiar with that.

Transport committee  The insurance requirements are based on risk assessment and historical accident costs. The objective was to share accountability between shippers and railways for the transportation of designated dangerous goods. The amounts are set based on risk, and that's where the $1 billion

Transport committee  That wasn't contemplated as part of this fund. It was for paying damages for accidents to victims of those accidents.

Transport committee  No, we don't have a cost. I don't know that a final cost has been determined for the Lac-Mégantic accident at this point.

Transport committee  In terms of the policy direction, it was to share accountability between shippers and railways, and unlimited liability would be inconsistent with that.

Transport committee  There is no provision in the legislation currently that allows that money to be used other than for the purposes that are defined in the act, and that is damages associated with accidents.

Transport committee  It could not be done through regulations.

Transport committee  No, I don't.

Transport committee  No. I don't have the information with respect to the railways' risk assessment and how they determine business decisions.