Canada to invest millions to modernize rail safety, security

Canadian Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra recently announced that the government is providing more than CA$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.

According to a news release, this funding will be dedicated to a range 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;
• engage with Indigenous communities to allow for the inclusion of Indigenous voices;
• 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.

The Canadian government also announced its intent to require vaccinations as early as the end of September across transportation services.