June 18, 2015 – Ottawa, Ontario – Transport Canada
To enhance railway safety and make the rail industry and crude oil shippers more accountable to Canadians, the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Transport, announced today that the Safe and Accountable Rail Act has received Royal Assent.
This Act amends the Canada Transportation Act to strengthen the liability and compensation regime for federally regulated railways through enhanced insurance requirements and a supplemental compensation fund financed by levies on crude oil shippers. It also amends the Railway Safety Act to increase information-sharing provisions and provide stronger oversight powers for the Minister and Transport Canada inspectors.
The new liability and compensation regime under the Canada Transportation Act will be brought into force one year from today. The new regime aligns with updates the Government of Canada is making to the liability and compensation regimes in other sectors of transport, including for marine tankers and oil pipelines. It is based on the "polluter pays" principle and makes railways and shippers responsible for the cost of accidents, protecting taxpayers and communities by ensuring that adequate resources are available to compensate victims and pay for environmental clean-up.
The amendments to the Railway Safety Act came into force today, on Royal Assent.
Zach Segal
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Lisa Raitt
Minister of Transport, Ottawa
613-991-0700
Media Relations
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055
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