HOUSE OF COMMONS
Transport: MPs have been recalled to Ottawa to discuss a potential study of rail safety following the disaster in Lac-Mégantic, Que.
NDP committee members Olivia Chow, Robert Aubin, Isabelle Morin, and Mike Sullivan requested a series of special meetings late last week. The MPs cited a 2011 auditor general's report on the transport of dangerous goods and federal oversight.
Watch live on CPAC (4pm ET / 1pm PT).
---
UPDATE: The committee agreed unanimously to the study. Here's the motion, from Conservative MP Jeff Watson:
That the Committee conduct a study on rail safety when more findings of the TSB investigation into the disaster at Lac Megantic are available.
NDP transport critic Olivia Chow wanted the study to start immediately, but her motion was defeated by Conservative and Liberal members:
That the Committee immediately commence a study on the situation of rail Safety in Canada, specifically, but not exclusively, examining:
a) The Transportation Safety Board recommendations on rail safety that the agency has not deemed fully satisfactory in terms of the actions taken by Transport Canada;
b) The December 2011 findings by the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development for the Office of the Auditor General on the transportation of dangerous goods;
c) if phasing out and replacement of unsafe tanker cars like the DOT-111/CTA-111A design is required.
That the Committee requests witnesses to appear in front of the Committee from the Transportation Safety Board, the Office of the Auditor General, Transport Canada, rail companies and representatives of rail workers, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and as well the Honourable Minister of Transport;
That the Committee requests copies of the following documents from Transport Canada: the General Operating Instructions and other Safety Management System and audit documents for all Transport Canada-licensed freight rail operators;
That this Study be conducted throughout August and September of 2013, and a report of this study be prepared and reported to the House in October 2013; and
That, when more findings of the TSB investigation into the disaster at Lac Megantic are available, the Committee conduct a second part of this rail safety study and report its findings to the House.”.
-Andrew Thomson
Latest Comments