Transport Minister focuses on railway safety and transportation challenges, highlights opportunities for the Greater Toronto Area

OAKVILLE, ON, May 2, 2014 /CNW/ - The Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Transport, today reiterated the Government of Canada's strong commitment to rail safety in remarks delivered at the "Moving Today for Tomorrow Transportation Symposium" hosted by the Oakville Chamber of Commerce and the Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) Oakville Chapter.

Following Transport Canada's announcement last week in response to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada's initial Lac-Mégantic recommendations, Minister Raitt reaffirmed a commitment to protect communities along Canada's railway lines, including those in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), through a strong regulatory regime for trains travelling in both rural and urban areas.

Minister Raitt also highlighted the integral role transportation plays in the GTA and the overall benefit to Canada's international trade and economic growth. She stressed the importance of a new Windsor-Detroit bridge to ensure sufficient border crossing capacity to handle projected growth in cross border trade and traffic in southern Ontario, as well as the Government of Canada's extensive investments in public transit. She further noted Canada's robust trade agenda and the benefits brought by the recent trade agreements with South Korea and the European Union.

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"As the Minister of Transport and a representative of the GTA, I understand the transportation challenges a growing population and thriving business hub like the GTA faces.  I also know the great opportunity we have to work together to ensure a safe, secure, environmentally responsible and efficient transportation network that meets our needs now and into the future."

The Honourable Lisa Raitt,
Minister of Transport

SOURCE: Transport Canada

Ashley Kelahear
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Lisa Raitt
Minister of Transport, Ottawa
613-991-0700

Media Relations
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055

Jana Régimbal
Press Secretary
Minister of Transport
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
[email protected]

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