HALIFAX, N.S. – Transport Minister David Collenette has announced $17.8 million to assist provinces and territories in implementing the National Safety Code (NSC) for motor carriers.

The minister made the announcement recently in Halifax during a meeting of the Council of Ministers Responsible for Transportation and Highway Safety.

The NSC is a comprehensive code of minimum performance standards for the safe operation of commercial vehicles. Developed in 1987 and administered and enforced by the provinces and territories, the NSC encourages trucking safety, promotes efficiency in the motor carrier industry, and harmonizes safety standards. The standards include Hours-of-Service, load securement, vehicle maintenance and safety ratings.

“The National Safety Code is an excellent example of federal, provincial and territorial cooperation to enhance the safety of the travelling public and the competitiveness of the motor carrier industry in North America,” says Collenette.

“The Memorandum of Understanding on the National Safety Code endorsed by the Council of Ministers today reaffirms our commitment to achieving greater national harmony in regulations affecting the motor carrier industry in Canada.”

Transport Canada has also contributed $51 million to the provinces and territories to support the NSC.

The latest round of funding, to be spent between 2001 and 2004, will be directed towards managing motor carrier operations in accordance with the new NSC safety rating provisions of the Motor Vehicle Transport Act.

Heading into the meeting, highway funding and a national plan for transportation topped the agenda.

According to Transportation Minister Margaret-Ann Blaney, a continued lack of funding to complete the twinning of New Brunswick’s portion of the Trans-Canada Highway was her province’s top priority.

“Our primary concern going forward federally is (the) funding issue from the federal government,” Blaney says.

“Collenette has long talked about having a blueprint for transportation in this country and it is absolutely essential – critical – that the provinces be involved in that process,” she says. “An ad hoc approach to how we get our money from the feds, the situation is like Collenette saying, ‘Maybe it’ll be in the next budget, we’re hoping that we’ll have some funding.’ You can’t plan for the future based on whether or not funding that may or may not be in place.”