Claude DeBellefeuille has promised to establish a citizen’s committee on railroad safety, rather like the one set up in Lac Mégantic.
“I think citizens should be put in charge of railroad safety, stated the Bloc québécois candidate. Lac Mégantic was a wakeup call.”
This citizen’s committee will be somewhat of a watchdog for railroad companies. Its objective would be to gather complaints, identify sectors at risk and make recommendations. All of this to establish connections with railroad companies.
Even though relations may be good with the various companies whose tracks run through the region, Ms DeBellefeuille points out the lack of inspectors for the eastern part of the country. With this in mind, she commended the work of CSX which established a training program specific to this subject <@Ri>Safety Train<@$p> at the beginning of the month.
In 2013, she acted as chief of staff for the Minister of Affaires municipales at the time of the Lac Mégantic disaster. “No one is immune. Trains are an important means of transportation, but we have to know that they are functioning safely. We have to be rigorous,” points out the Bloc candidate.
Claude DeBellefeuille took this opportunity to criticize the New Democrat incumbent by talking about Anne Quach’s lack of leadership and to explain what makes them different. “It’s great to launch petitions and consultations, but you have to take action. You have to make things happen,” she attacked.
Transporting oil
In 2013, she acted as chief of staff for the Minister of Affaires municipales at the time of the Lac Mégantic disaster. Human error might explain the accident, however, we must ensure that the railroad and the contents of the cars are properly maintained, according to Ms DeBellefeuille. “No one is immune. Trains are an important means of transportation, but we have to know that they are functioning safely. We have to be rigorous,” points out the Bloc candidate.
Claude DeBellefeuille is further motivated by the idea of this committee, because of the possible increase in the transportation of oil in the region. “We know that the transportation of oil has increased and it won’t be decreasing, she stated. The exit port for the Belledune project, [an oil terminal project proposed for this New Brunswick town], will be Vaudreuil-Soulanges. The greatest number of pipelines cross this region.”
Translated by Cathleen Johnston
