TRAN Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities met at 3:32 p.m. this day, in Room 209, West Block, the Chair, Merv Tweed, presiding.

The witnesses made statements and answered questions.

At 5:00 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 5:05 p.m., the sitting resumed.

The Committee resumed consideration of the motion of Don H. Bell, — That the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities conduct an in depth inquiry into rail safety and particularly the recent CN rail accidents in British Columbia and western Canada, including a derailment that caused an environmental catastrophe in the Cheakamus River, and a locomotive accident that resulted in the deaths of two rail workers in June 2006.

The debate continued.

On motion of Brian Jean, it was agreed, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “and particularly the recent CN rail accidents in British Columbia and western Canada, including a derailment that caused an environmental catastrophe in the Cheakamus River, and a locomotive accident that resulted in the deaths of two rail workers in June 2006” with the words “in Canada and particularly recent CN rail accidents in British Columbia and Western Canada, including a derailement that caused a disasterous spill into Lake Wabamum, Alberta, and in British Columbia that caused an environmental catastrophe in the Cheakamus River, a locomotive accident that resulted in the deaths of two rail workers in 2006 and whether there is any correlation to the increase in rail accidents as a result of the transfer of the BC Rail line to CN”.

After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to.

The motion, as adopted, reads as follows:

"That the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities conduct and in depth inquiry into rail safety in Canada and particularly recent CN rail accidents in British Columbia and Western Canada, including a derailement that caused a disasterous spill into Lake Wabamum, Alberta, and in British Columbia that caused an environmental catastrophe in the Cheakamus River, a locomotive accident that resulted in the deaths of two rail workers in 2006 and whether there is any correlation to the increase in rail accidents as a result of the transfer of the BC Rail line to CN."

Mario Laframboise moved, — That the Committee summon Mr. Jacques Duchesneau, President and CEO fo the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority and Mr. James Cherry, president and CEO of Aéroports de Montréal to appear before the Committee on Thursday, November 9, 2006 in order to explain the security failures noted at the Montreal airport.

Debate arose thereon.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: Don H. Bell, Steven Blaney, Robert Carrier, Ed Fast, Brian Jean, Peter Julian, Mario Laframboise, David J. McGuinty, Andy Scott, Brian Storseth — 10; NAYS: Charles Hubbard — 1.

At 5:47 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.