Ottawa Ontario - The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) today announced that proposed Regulations Amending Certain Regulations made under the Canada Transportation Act were published in Part I of the Canada Gazette on 30 Mar 2019 for public review and comment.
 
The proposed regulations are being made by the CTA under the Canada Transportation Act (Act), as amended by the Transportation Modernization Act on 23 May 2018.
 
The proposed regulations represent Phase 4 of the CTA's Regulatory Modernization Initiative (rail), and follow consultations held in the summer and fall of 2018.
 
The consultation process included 20 formal bi-lateral meetings with representatives from Canadian and U.S. passenger and freight railway companies, rail tourism operators, industry associations, grain shipper associations, associations representing logistics and freight management, private companies who are users of rail, and other industry experts.
 
In addition, the CTA received 26 written submissions from stakeholders.
 
The CTA considered all input received as it developed the draft regulations.
 
The proposed regulations would make amendments needed to align with changes made to the Act in recent years, including under the Transportation Modernization Act.
 
They would also prescribe filing requirements for freight railway companies so that the CTA can validate that they are carrying appropriate minimum third party liability insurance coverage.
 
Finally, the proposed regulations would designate rail-related provisions of the Act, and CTA Orders, as subject to administrative monetary penalties of up to $25,000 per violation.
 
How to Comment
 
The complete text of the regulations is available in Part I of the Canada Gazette.
 
Comments can be submitted to ferroviaire-rail@otc-cta.gc.ca until 29 Apr 2019.
 
For more information on the proposed regulations, please visit the Rail Transportation Consultation web page.
 
Next Steps
 
The CTA will review all comments received following the pre-publication of the proposed regulations in Part I of the Canada Gazette, and may propose adjustments based on this feedback.
 
Once approved, the final regulations will be published in Part II of the Canada Gazette.
 
The regulations are expected to come into force by summer 2019.
 
Author unknown.