BANFF, Alta. – Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) CEO David Bradley congratulated Canada’s Premiers on their recent decision to develop a national strategy for Canada’s transportation system.

“CTA has long called for the development of a national strategy for the movement of goods across our country as well as the Canada/U.S. border. We are pleased to see attention finally being given to our transportation system and encourage the Premiers to ensure that the strategy includes a focus on international and domestic freight corridors,” said Bradley.

In the announcement made at the Council of the Federation meeting in Banff, Premiers expressed serious concern that absent or aging highway systems and congestion on key routes to airports, ports and border crossings are eroding Canada’s ability to compete in the global economy.

Premier Campbell of British Columbia, Premier Hamm of Nova Scotia, and Premier Handley of the Northwest Territories will lead the development of the national strategy, which will be multimodal and inclusive of all regions.

These designated Premiers will work with provincial and territorial transportation ministers and bring this strategy to all Premiers in November 2005 for further discussion.

“The Canadian economy depends on an efficient and reliable freight transportation system and we look forward to the opportunity of working with the provinces on the development of this strategy and to providing input from the trucking industry on key international and domestic freight corridors,” said Bradley.