OTTAWA, Ont. –Federal Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon has tabled changes to the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act which should increase safety and security for HazMat operators.

“Our government is committed to ensuring public safety and security when dangerous goods are imported, handled or transported in Canada,” said Cannon. Proposed changes include: reinforcing the existing Emergency Response Assistance Program, requiring HazMat haulers to have emergency response plans in place in the event of an accident or terrorist attack; requirements for security training and screening of personnel working with dangerous goods; setting the stage for regulations that would require dangerous goods to be tracked during transport and requiring the reporting of lost or stolen loads; amending the definition of ‘importer’ to provide more clarification as to who is affected by the rules.

For more info, visit: www.tc.gc.ca/tdg/consult/actreview/menu.htm.