The Government of Canada is taking action to further improve the safety and security of Canada’s rail system, especially in light of the impacts of climate change and severe weather on railway operations.
Today, the Minister of Transport, the Honourable Omar Alghabra, announced that the Government of Canada is providing over $100 million over five years, starting in 2021-22, for Transport Canada to continue to advance the safe and secure transportation of people and goods by rail.
This funding will be dedicated to a wide array of activities that will enable Transport Canada to:
- invest in railway oversight to better address new and evolving risks to the safety and security of railway operations, which includes updating legislation, developing new approaches to improve railway safety data collection and analysis, evaluating new technologies for rail inspection and safety oversight, and supporting the safer transportation of dangerous goods;
- meaningfully engage with Indigenous communities to allow for the inclusion of Indigenous voices as we work together to ensure the rail system operates as safely and securely as possible across Canada;
- undertake research and analysis to better identify risks and strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change and severe weather on the integrity and safety of critical railway infrastructure; and
- provide additional funding to the ongoing success of the Rail Safety Improvement Program.
With 41,711 kilometres of track, Canada has the third largest railway system in the world. Transport Canada conducts more than 35,000 inspections every year as part of its oversight activities to ensure that rail companies and road authorities comply with the Railway Safety Act.
