OTTAWA, Ont.– Canada’s Transport Minister, John Baird, has tabled amendments to the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, 1992. The amendments aim to ensure the safety and security of Canadians when dangerous goods are imported, handled or transported in Canada.

“They will also maintain trade and market access to further economic prosperity,” said Baird.

The proposed amendments would introduce the following enhancements to public safety:

• reinforce the existing Emergency Response Assistance Program, which requires emergency response assistance plans to be in place should incidents occur involving dangerous goods;
• require security training and screening of personnel working with dangerous goods;
• enable the drafting of regulations requiring that dangerous goods be tracked during transport and that incidents involving loss or theft be reported;
• enable the use of security measures and interim orders, in accordance with the Public Safety Act and other legislation;
• enable the development of a program to require transportation security clearances for dangerous goods; and
• amend the definition of an importer to Canada, to clarify who is subject to the requirements of the Act and its regulations for transporting dangerous goods.