Canada considers modifying rail safety laws

Canadian federal authorities are considering new penalties for railroads convicted of breaking safety rules, including identifying a specific railway employee for possible incarceration if a railroad is found guilty of violating the law.

Minister of State for Transport Rob Merrifield announced Tuesday the new legislation will include protections for whistleblowers and greater financial and legal penalties for violations. The changes would designate one railway executive legally responsible for safety, and the minister suggested the person could possibly face jail time if rules were  broken.

“What we’re really wanting to do is to make sure that they have a culture of safety within the company and if you are saying there’s one person deemed to have that responsibility there’s a lot more chance that’s actually going to happen,” Merrifield said.

Merrifield declined to divulge additional details prior to the bill’s consideration, expected to occur later this week in Ottawa. But he suggested that violators have suffered few penalties in the past. “All of these will be addressed in the bill," he said. "I believe even the rail companies will support it, reluctantly perhaps, but I believe they will.”

The recommended changes are prompted by two separate reviews onrailway safety, completed in 2008. One advisory panel report made 56 recommendations to improve safety, while a Commons committee report made another 14 recommendations. The studies were launched after rail accidents resulted in fatalities in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec.