Council of Ministers responsible for Transportation and Highway Safety

MONTREAL, Quebec – Federal, provincial and territorial  Ministers of Transportation and Highway Safety today approved actions to change regulations for commercial heavy trucks that  will support the trucking industry and economic competitiveness.

Ministers  approved three recommendations by the National Task Force on Vehicle Weights  and Dimensions Policy. These amendments are in line with the renewal of the Agreement on Internal Trade that Canada’s Premiers agreed to on August 29, 2014,  and will contribute to trade across Canada’s borders.  As this important initiative proceeds, ongoing  work by the Task Force stands as a positive example of what collaboration can  achieve.  

Ministers  also endorsed updates to the National  Safety Code (NSC), which sets out inspection criteria for trucks, trailers  and buses, to be implemented by each government. More information about these  changes can be found here.

These  measures will support the safe and efficient movement of goods by improving  fuel efficiency; reducing GHG emissions and providing greater flexibility for  shippers travelling across provincial and territorial boundaries.  

Federal Minister of Transport Lisa Raitt provided an update on recent  rail safety improvements and stated that the department continues to work with  its partners, all provincial and territorial governments, the Federation of  Canadian Municipalities, international partners, and others to continually  improve the safety of Canada’s railway system.

“The federal, provincial and territorial governments continue to take  action to ensure that Canadian transportation routes are among the safest in  the world, through a commitment to an effective, harmonized approach to  regulation,” said Minister Raitt. “In addition, our government has taken action  to improve rail safety and the safe transportation of dangerous goods by rail,  and will continue to work with partners to ensure the integrity of our rail  system.”

“Rail plays a crucial role in  moving goods and people from coast to coast and, in this respect, we must  address the concerns of municipalities” stated Québec Minister of Transport  Robert Poëti. “The safety of our rail networks is, and will continue to be, a  priority.”

Recognizing  the important contribution of transportation infrastructure to economic growth  and quality of life, Ministers discussed steps to implement their Vision for transportation in Canada, established in 2013, and reaffirmed their commitment to working  together.

Collaboration  among governments is critical to building safe and efficient transportation  networks that support our communities and grow our local, regional and national  economies.

Media contacts:

Jana  Régimbal
Press  Secretary
Office  of the Honourable Lisa Raitt
Minister  of Transport, Ottawa
613-991-0700

Media  Relations
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055

Valérie Rodrigue
Attachée de presse
Cabinet du ministre  des Transports
et ministre  responsable de la
région de Montréal
418-643-6980

Backgrounders:

National Task Force on Vehicle Weights and  Dimensions Policy
National Safety Code Updates
Rail Safety Updates