Transport committee  Off the top?

Transport committee  Do you mean what I meant by low risk? I'll give you an example of what I meant, and there are probably a few of them out there. Right now, if you and I decide we are going to get into the ultralight business, we would find a relatively benign regulatory environment. In other words, we haven't taken the initiative to put in a firm, elaborate regulatory system, because frankly, it is a low-risk area.

Transport committee  That was never the intention. The closest thing would be the delegation system we have put in place for non-paying passengers in home business aviation.

Transport committee  I can add a few more. Certainly we have a policy of the western hemisphere first, plus specific areas in ICAO that we support with our limited resources. What we're talking about there is an aid program called COSCAP, which operates out of Beijing. It has both Koreas, and Manchuria in China, in it.

Transport committee  Frankly, I'm not hoping, but can give you examples from preliminary implementation. In fact, this is not full implementation yet. Companies who are embarking on this path can expect somewhere in the order of a 400% to 500% increase in reports. Assuming they follow up these appropriately—in other words, determine what the causes are and put appropriate corrective measures in place—we've seen a 60% reduction in occurrence reports.

Transport committee  Yes, it is. And I think I've actually spoken to the committee about it, that it's envisioned to be applicable to low-risk areas of the industry, and specifically targeting areas where there is no regulation today.

Transport committee  I'm going to remark on the focus inspection program, which is a selected final risk control measure. The implementation part of that, to define the focus inspection program, was due January to March of last year, with implementation March 31. The personal accountability implementation team—and to my knowledge this is where it's applicable—is already being used.

Transport committee  Thanks, Mr. Minister. There's been a general theme throughout the sessions that I've either been sitting on as a witness or listening to; it's an underlying belief that this is about reductions. The budgets haven't changed, as the minister has said. The speech to which Mr. Laframbroise referred was about our expected retirements.

Transport committee  Absolutely.

Transport committee  Fully informed on what they're doing in terms of their employment, yes; but that does not extend to my influencing their testimony.

Transport committee  Okay. But yes, I'm responsible for their well-being when they're on duty.

Transport committee  It's my responsibility to make sure they're well informed and to seek their feedback.

Transport committee  It was never my intention.

Transport committee  Yes, but it wouldn't be me in this context, necessarily. I'm not an expert on the Government of Canada policies vis-à-vis public servants appearing before committees. I do know that a document exists, and had I any indication that employees were going to be invited to this committee, then I would have gone directly....

Transport committee  I'm well aware of the prerogatives of this committee, and it would not be my intention to curtail its work in any way, but in fact, just the opposite; I would seek to smooth the way for the appearance of people you would invite from inside our organization.