OTTAWA – Member of Parliament Taylor Bachrach (Skeena-Bulkley Valley) has initiated six days of parliamentary hearings on whether communities are adequately protected from spills and fires caused by the rail transport of dangerous goods.
Tuesday, at Parliament’s transport committee, Bachrach questioned Transport Canada’s top officials responsible for dangerous goods and rail safety.
“I was shocked by their inability to answer basic questions,” said Bachrach. “People in communities like Terrace and Smithers see trains full of dangerous goods sitting in the heart of their communities and deserve to know what the plan is.”
Bachrach asked whether Transport Canada evaluates communities’ emergency response capacity, whether residents can be evacuated quickly enough, and why risk assessments and emergency plans are confidential.
“This is not meant to create fear,” said Bachrach. “However, I’m increasingly concerned the federal government is asleep at the switch. It shouldn’t take a major disaster to spur government action — we can ask the tough questions now and push for adequate regulations and resources. The price of adequate protection must not be the lives of our neighbours.”
On Thursday, the committee will hear testimony from the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs. The hearings will continue in late January.
WATCH MP BACHRACH’S QUESTIONING HERE
WATCH THE FULL COMMITTEE SESSION HERE
