Ottawa Ontario - Federal Transport Minister Marc Garneau is ordering that all trains carrying a significant amount of dangerous goods on federal lines slow down, in the wake of a Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) crude oil train derailment in Saskatchewan this morning.
 
"I am very concerned about the derailments of railway cars containing dangerous goods in the past 12 months," Garneau said in a statement issued earlier today.
 
"That is why I am issuing an immediate order to slow trains carrying significant quantities of dangerous goods on federally regulated railway tracks across Canada."
 
The order, which will take effect Friday at midnight, will require trains travelling through metropolitan areas to limit their speed to a maximum of 32 kph (20 mph), and 40 kph (25 mph) everywhere else.
 
Those speed limits are half as fast as limits currently listed on Transport Canada's website.
 
"This will be put into effect for the next 30 days. We could shorten that, we're looking for the causes to see if there is a common pattern, or we could lengthen it depending on how things are progressing," he said.
 
"I realize there will be an effect on the economy of the country because our trains move important goods across the country, but it is very, very, important that we not sacrifice safety."
 
"I have asked my officials to examine all issues related to these accidents to determine if additional safety measures will be required."
 
"I cannot compromise on safety," he said.
 
David Shield.

  Some additional comments by the Transport Minister were added from another news article.