RAILWAY ASSOCIATION OF CANADA (THE) (RAC) / L'Association des chemins de fer du Canada (ACFC)
Registration:
22
of
58
(2012-12-13
to
2013-01-01)
Grant, Contribution or Other Financial Benefit
- Solicit funding from the "Skills and Partnership Fund - Aboriginal Call for Papers for Concept Papers 2012" for the training and development of aboriginal youth for rail sector jobs.
Legislative Proposal, Bill or Resolution
- Bill C-52, Fair Rail Freight Service Act. The bill proposes to amend the Canada Transportation Act to require a railway company, on a shipper’s request, to make the shipper an offer to enter into a contract respecting the manner in which the railway company must fulfil its service obligations to the shipper. It also creates an arbitration process to establish the terms of such a contract if the shipper and the railway company are unable to agree on them. The enactment also amends provisions related to air transportation to streamline internal processes and certain administrative provisions of that Act.
The RAC will advocate to ensure that no amendments that could further harm the rail industry are entertained with respect to Bill C-52, An Act to amend the Canada Transportation Act. (Administration, air and railway transportation and arbitration).
.
- 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.
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
- 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 HRDSC as well as Aboriginal Affairs & Northern Development for the development of potential human resources rail policy.
- 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.
- Promotion of international trade to ensure minimal barriers to entry of goods and expansion of markets for products that move by rail into and out of Canada.
Supporting Beyond the Border, Regulatory Cooperation Council initiatives and pilot projecs for better access to the U.S.
- Provide input to Canadian Heritage plans for activities surrounding the Sir John A. Macdonald Bi-Centennial program in 2015, so as to link these activities to the rail sector, i.e. give visibility to the rail sector.
- Research & Development - Encourage regulatory cooperation to accommodate innovative rail operating practices.
- Seeking Transport Canada, involvement in developing and implementing new technologies for improving safety, particularly through setting up a funded multi-stakeholder research group.
- We will advocate for the installation of both voice and video recorders on board locomotive cabs that can be used by the rail industry for safety purposes.
Policies or Program, Regulation
- Railway-Roadway Grade Crossings Consultations: Meeting with Transport Canada to ensure the policy and ensuing regulations factor in the costs to the rail industry and reflect previous agreement on the issue.
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.