No. H019/05 For release February 8, 2005 HAMILTON MOVEMENT OF GOODS STUDY SET TO BEGIN OTTAWA – Tony Valeri, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, on behalf of Transport Minister Jean-C. Lapierre, along with Lucienne Robillard, Minister for Human Resources and Skills Development, and Larry Di Ianni, mayor of Hamilton, today announced that a study funded by the Government of Canada and the City of Hamilton examining the movement of goods in and around the Hamilton region is set to begin. The study will cost an estimated $147,350, with approximately $70,000 being contributed by the Government of Canada and $78,400 funded through the City of Hamilton. The Hamilton Goods Movement study will examine the potential for Hamilton to become a regional intermodal transportation centre serving the Golden Horseshoe and the Windsor/Sarnia trade corridor. "This study demonstrates the Government of Canada's commitment to advance modal integration and improve the efficiency of the transportation system in southern Ontario," said Mr. Valeri. "We look forward to reviewing the results of the study and working with our partners to allow Hamilton to achieve its full potential." The goals of the study include: examining the city's technical potential to become an efficient, safe, integrated and sustainable regional intermodal transportation centre within the broadly defined Golden Horseshoe trade corridor; documenting the movement of goods, existing freight flows and related issues in the Hamilton area, as well as future approaches and challenges; and developing policy options that address current and future market needs, local transportation planning issues, regional multi-modal capabilities, technological opportunities, barriers to and interpretations of sustainable transportation principles and future challenges. "Embarking on a study to determine the best way to move goods is important to business and the economic future of Hamilton," said Mayor Larry Di Ianni. "This is a good example of the Federal Government working together with the City and we look forward to the outcome." "Technology is changing – and with those changes, there will be an increased need for skilled workers to develop and maintain an efficient, safe, integrated and sustainable transportation system in southern Ontario," said Mme Robillard. "It is the goal of HRSDC to help workers acquire the skills to make this kind of transportation system a reality." The Hamilton Goods Movement study proposal results from the Airport Summit held April 2, 2004, with representatives of the City of Hamilton and the Governments of Canada and Ontario. After the summit, a steering committee comprising public and private sector representatives was formed to guide the study. Committee members come from the following organizations: Canadian National Railway, Canadian Pacific Limited, the City of Hamilton, Hamilton International Airport, Hamilton Port, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, and Transport Canada. - 30 - Contacts: Irène Marcheterre Director of Communications Office of the Minister, Ottawa (613) 991-0700 Brian McGregor Communications Transport Canada, Ottawa (613) 993-0055 Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at apps.tc.gc.ca/listserv/ and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada. This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons with visual disabilities.
