THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Wednesday, October 29, 2025
(7)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications met this day at 6:46 p.m., in room B45, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Larry W. Smith, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Arnold, Aucoin, Cormier, Dasko, Hay, Lewis, Oudar, Simons, Smith and Wilson (10).

Participating in the meeting: Geneviève Gosselin and Marion Ménard, Analysts, Library of Parliament.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, the committee continued its study on the maintenance of activities or essential services in the federally regulated rail and marine sectors in the case of labour disruptions.

WITNESSES:

Railway Association of Canada:

Eric Harvey, President and Chief Executive Officer.

Canadian National Railway Company:

Stephanie McGuire, Assistant Vice-President, Labour Relations.

Canadian Pacific Kansas City:

Nathan Cato, Assistant Vice-President, Government Affairs Canada.

Federally Regulated Employers - Transportation and Communications:

Daniel Safayeni, President and Chief Executive Officer (by videoconference);

Christopher D. Pigott, Partner, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP (by videoconference).

Montreal Port Authority:

Julie Gascon, Chief Executive Officer (by videoconference);

Marie-Claude Galarneau, Chief Human Resources and Strategy Officer (by videoconference).

National Maritime Group:

Derrick Hynes, Chief Executive Officer.

As an individual:

Barry Eidlin, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, McGill University.

Eric Harvey, Stephanie McGuire, Nathan Cato, Daniel Safayeni and Christopher D. Pigott each made a statement and answered questions.

At 7:59 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 8:06 p.m., the committee resumed.

Julie Gascon, Derrick Hynes and Barry Eidlin each made a statement and answered questions.

At 8:56 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Andrea Mugny

Clerk of the Committee