Transport committee  I'm not quite sure if it was translated correctly. We're not suggesting that the trains be stopped during the night. But I would promote something such as Mr. Julian said, a multi-solution, to reduce the activities during the night and permit them in the yards during the day. We don't want to completely stop the trains.

Transport committee  Probably a pan-Canadian consultation with cities, to harmonize regulations that cover the noise generated by train traffic.

Transport committee  Yes, sir.

Transport committee  It should be followed as a guideline, you know, like a buoy is to navigation--an acceptable standard.

Transport committee  Monsieur Laframboise, gentlemen, if I may take a moment of your time, I would like to explain something to you. I am a long time resident of the area next to the Joffre shunting yard. When you live next door to a shunting yard, you have to take a white cloth and wipe down your resin patio table every day, and at the end of that same day—not three weeks later—, the cloth is black.

Transport committee  Our position is quite clear. The concept of “reasonable noise” is rather vague. That is why I prefer using the term “nuisance”. We have to go beyond noise. Noise can be measured with a decibel meter, and standards can be established, as has done the WHO, which is an international organization.

Transport committee  In fact, Mr. Laframboise, that is exactly what we are suggesting. That is why we are here. There are many types of nuisance that contravene municipal and provincial laws. However, we want the CTA to have more power to act in the specific area of the widespread nuisance caused by the railway companies.

Transport committee  First off, we believe that the issue has already been raised in previous briefs. We are convinced that noise has adverse effects and consequences on health. This has been proven by the World Health Organization. Our brief contains hyperlinks to the WHO website, which includes the recommendation that noise should not exceed 45 decibels at night and 55 decibels in daytime.