Question Period: After SCOTIC
Following the meeting of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities on November 30th (see http://safeskies.ca/news/SCOTIC_to_hear_witnesses for Notice of Meeting and http://safeskies.ca/news/Pushing_paper for news and a link to the audio), NDP Transport Critic Dennis Bevington once again raised the issue of air safety during Question Period in the House of Commons on December 1st. Watch the exchange between Mr. Bevington and John Baird, Minister of Transport.
What follows is the transcript of the procedings.
Mr. Dennis Bevington (Western Arctic, NDP):
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, members of the transport committee heard shocking revelations about Transport Canada's failed approach to aviation safety. Members learned that inspectors spend their time pushing paper rather than making sure it is safe to fly.
Government members on the committee claimed that the witnesses were fear-mongering. If this was just fear-mongering, why did the government halt its plans for safety management systems for small airlines? It recognized it was not going to work.
Will the government commit to review aviation safety, fix the problems and restore public confidence?
Hon. John Baird (Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, CPC):
Mr. Speaker, we are tremendously concerned with civil aviation safety. At my department, that is one of our most important responsibilities. I do not support outsourcing safety testing or safety monitoring to the private sector. I think it is an important core responsibility of government and my department.
We are doing a lot of listening to our employees and to others who have come forward with some reasonable suggestions. I did hear one comment from Daniel Slunder, the head of the Canadian Federal Pilots Association, who said:
Transport Canada is to be commended for recognizing there are serious problems with its aviation SMS program. This postponement is absolutely the right thing to do.
We are committed to working with stakeholders to ensure the public is safe.
