Tory MP nixes review of safety audit
There’s no proof transport study is relevant: Miller
It’s not urgent to review a critical audit exposing weaknesses in Transport Canada’s oversight of the transportation of dangerous goods because there’s no proof the report is relevant in the wake of the Lac-Mégantic train disaster, the Conservative chairman of the House of Commons transport committee said on Friday.
Larry Miller, an Ontario MP, made the comments in response to an informal request from NDP transport critic Olivia Chow to hold emergency hearings on rail safety in light of the tragedy that has claimed dozens of lives after a runaway train carrying oil derailed, crashed and exploded in a small Quebec town last Saturday.
Miller told Postmedia News that he believed parliamentary hearings could eventually look at the warnings emerging from various reports and watchdogs, but that their review would be more effective after learning the results of ongoing investigations into the causes of the crash.
“Obviously, it’s our job in government to make sure that all modes of transportation are done safely,” Miller said in an interview.
“But is there an urgency, just because of this derailment? Again the answer to that is no.
“In order to have a meeting or conduct something, you need a subject, and right now we don’t have a subject.”
Miller said hearings could also eventually help guide new recommendations for regulations or legislation.
Chow said Friday that the committee should meet to study implementation of the past safety recommendations made by former federal environment commissioner Scott Vaughan as well as the Transportation Safety Board.