RAILWAY ASSOCIATION OF CANADA (THE) (RAC) / L'Association des chemins de fer du Canada (ACFC)
Registration:
11
of
58
(2011-01-14
to
2011-08-01)
Legislative Proposal, Bill or Resolution
- Delink the Income Tax Act from the regulatory reporting requirements set up under the Canada Transportation Act, by repealing Section 36 of the Income Tax Act
- Excise Tax Act (E-15) - Eliminate the federal fuel excise tax on locomotive diesel fuel in order to reduce transportation costs for Canadian shippers, contribute to Canada's environmental goals, and match the U.S. which abolished its federal excise tax on locomotive fuel on January 1, 2007.
- Seek amendments to Bill C-33, The Safer Railways Act, to ensure recommendations of the Railway Safety Act Panel, particularly sections 33, 34 & 35, are properly reflected in the Bill.
Legislative Proposal, Bill or Resolution, Regulation
- Income Tax Regulations - Increase the Capital Cost Allowance rate for all rail rolling stock to at least 30%. This rate should be applicable to railway companies, rail leasing companies and private car owners.
Policies or Program
- As a follow-up to yet to be released final recommendations of the Rail Service Review launched in April, 2008, the RAC will advocate for the development of Rail level of service policies that do not have any negative impact on the existing competitive environment and will not distort the current regulatory regime (S. 113 to 116 CTA).
- Development of program for infrastructure support of shortline railways through public-private partnerships, and strengthen and accelerate funding for the development of rail and infrastructure within all identified trade gateways and corridors.
- Encourage government research investment in transportation field.
- Input to Environment Canada and Transport Canada in the development of a potential biofuel policy applicable to the rail sector.
- Input to development locomotive emissions regulation by Environment Canada and Transport Canada of potential trading criteria applicable to the rail sector.
- Modifications to the way the Transportation Safety Board is collecting, reporting and analyzing rail incidents/accidents.
- Operation Lifesaver Program - Solicit recurrent funding to program, particularly for work supporting education and awareness for crossing safety and trespass prevention.
- Seeking Transport Canada, involvement in developing and implementing new technologies for improving safety, particularly through setting up a funded multi-stakeholder research group.
Regulation
- At Transport Canada's request, working on potential new regulations on data collection under S. 50(1) of the Canada Transportation Act (1996, c10)
- Modifications to the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations to develop standards dealing with emergency response for dangerous goods and hazardous materials.
- Proximity - Modifications to the proposed Access Control regulations to cause municipalities to consult railways on land development or zoning issues adjacent to rail property.