No. H001/07
For release
January 9, 2007
CANADA'S NEW GOVERNMENT APPOINTS OBSERVER FOR MONTMAGNY INVESTIGATION
OTTAWA − The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport,
Infrastructure and Communities, today announced that he has appointed Mr. Paul
Boisvenue to act as the Minister's Observer during the Transportation Safety
Board's investigation of the Canadian National (CN) derailment, which occurred
in Montmagny, Quebec, on January 7, 2007.
Mr. Paul Boisvenue, a Transport Canada rail safety inspector, was appointed
pursuant to the Canadian Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety
Board Act, to attend an investigation being conducted by the Transportation
Safety Board. The Minister's Observer's role is to obtain factual information
from an ongoing investigation, advise the department of any significant
regulatory factors and coordinate the required support to the investigation.
"Canada's New Government takes the safety of the Canadian rail system very
seriously and is committed to ensuring that appropriate levels of safety are
maintained," said Minister Cannon. "The appointment of Paul Boisvenue as
Minister's Observer ensures that immediate corrective action will be taken
should any deficiencies be identified."
"The derailment in Montmagny this past weekend and the ensuing residents'
concerns about the speed of trains travelling through their community
reemphasizes the need for a full review of the Railway Safety Act," added
Minister Cannon. "The review of the Act, announced in December, will ensure that
Canada has the most modern and efficient regulatory framework for rail
companies."
On December 14, 2006, Minister Cannon announced that an independent panel
would conduct a full review of the Railway Safety Act. The purpose of the
review is to further improve rail safety in Canada by identifying possible
amendments to the Act that would strengthen Canada's regulatory regime for rail
safety. The panel will be announced shortly and is expected to submit its report
in the fall of 2007.
The maximum allowable operating speed on train tracks is determined according
to geometric requirements as outlined in Transport Canada's Railway Track
Safety Rules. The maximum speed permitted at Montmagny is up to 96.6
kilometres per hour (60 miles per hour) for freight operations.
For further information on Transport Canada's role in relation to railway
accidents, please visit
www.tc.gc.ca/mediaroom/infosheets/railway.htm.
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Contacts:
Natalie Sarafian
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport,
Infrastructure and Communities, Ottawa
613-991-0700
Fiona MacLeod
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.
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