The Toronto Star reports in its Saturday, June 8, edition that Ottawa is being accused of putting the interests of private railways ahead of public safety after it agreed to keep the installation of locomotive voice and video recorders voluntary. The Star's Tess Kalinowski writes that Federal Transport Minister Denis Lebel issued a news release Friday saying the Conservative government supports the recommendations of a working group of the Advisory Council on Rail Safety, which endorsed the voluntary use of the recorders. The committee of railway, union and government representatives was formed to look at the issue of recording devices on trains following the fatal VIA derailment in Burlington last year. NDP transportation critic Olivia Chow said the government is protecting rail companies, which are enjoying record profits, instead of railway workers and passengers. "What difference does it make? If it's voluntary, why does the government even need to say anything? The government is there to set regulations. This Conservative government is failing the train passengers," she said. Teamsters president Bill Brehl, who represents track crews, is dubious of the safety value of recorders.