OTTAWA, Ont. – Members of the Transportation Association of Canada (TAC) are in the process of refocusing their organization, and part of that activity involves placing a new emphasis on education.

Consisting of 500 representatives from municipal, provincial and federal governments as well as private sector groups, TAC will now look to educate on transportation issues through their many products and publications.

The hottest issue they have tackled lately is the proposed designation of road salt as a toxic substance.

“That certainly will have a vast impact on our members and consequently we intend on working with them and with the Ministry of Environment to develop appropriate management plans to properly manage salt,” says TAC’s current executive director Michel Gravel.

“At the same time (we want to) make sure road safety is not adversely affected.”

Although some members are opposed to the Ministry of Environment initiative, TAC has taken a neutral stance on whether it likes or dislikes the notion.

“We’re helping our members to keep well-informed of the issue,” says Gravel.

“But we’re not necessarily advocating one side of the issue or another.”

Part of their education plan includes an in-depth course on road salt which is available on their Web site, www.tac-atc.com.

In addition to examining the road salt use issue, TAC plans to tackle a wide range of other issues impacting the Canadian transportation industry, as well.

Their revamped mission statement reads, in part, that “TAC is a national association with a mission to promote the provision of safe, efficient and environmentally and financially sustainable transportation services in support of Canada’s social and economic goals.”

First formed as the Canadian Good Roads Association in 1914, it was renamed the Roads and Transportation Association of Canada in 1970 before taking on its current name in 1990.

“It has evolved over time and its mandate has changed over time,” says Gravel. n