Transport Canada has launched a statutory review of the Railway Safety Act and is seeking input from interested stakeholders on the Act’s effectiveness in supporting a safe rail network as well as how the Act and associated regulations could be enhanced. Click here to go to the review website.
Those interested in providing input can do so by participating in an on-line consultation forum or providing a written submission.
To assist stakeholders in developing written submissions, Transport Canada has prepared a Consultation Guidance Document that includes key questions being considered by the review panel. Responses do not have to follow the questions in the document, but it is an option for structuring a response. Written submissions are due by September 22, 2017, and can be submitted to the following:
Railway Safety Act Review Secretariat
255 Albert St., Suite 702
Ottawa, ON K1P 6A9
TC.RSAReview-ExamenLSF.TC@tc.gc.ca
The Railway Safety Act is the overarching federal legislation that supports the safe operation of railways in Canada. In recent years, the Minister of Transportation has enacted several regulations under the Railway Safety Act intended to require railways to strengthen their safety practices and operate more transparently, including the following:
- Enhanced Grade Crossing Regulations
- Railway Safety Management System Regulations
- Railway Safety Administrative Monetary Penalties
Other recent regulatory enhancements dealing with the transportation of dangerous goods, such as those requiring railways to share information with municipalities on the dangerous goods transported within their boundaries, fall under the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, and are therefore out of scope of this review.
Enquiries may be directed to:
Wyatt Skovron
Policy Analyst
780.955.4096
Kim Heyman
Director, Advocacy & Communications
780.955.4079