First and foremost, it is both an honour and an exciting opportunity to step into the role of President and CEO of the Railway Association of Canada. With Tariffs being implemented and federal elections around the corner, the Association is asked to react quickly and engage in a manner that support the Canadian economy. It […]
Resilience is not passive; it requires planning, investment, and unwavering commitment. With a whole-of-supply-chain approach, Canada’s railways demonstrate resilience every day. And as leaders across industries and governments come together to grow our economy, rail remains the bedrock of communities, industry and trade. Canada’s rail corridors are among the most resilient in the world, delivering […]
Increasing tariffs and bolstering borders dominated political discourse at the end of a month that began with Donald Trump’s re-election as U.S. President. Canada and the U.S. share the most successful bilateral trading relationship in the history of the world. And so, given our highly integrated economies and supply chains, any talk of border thickening, […]
As a trading nation, Canada’s reputation and economic well-being rely on the efficiency of its supply chains. As we look to the future, smart investments in rail will ensure that Canada is a reliable trade partner, fostering economic prosperity for generations to come. We saw signs this week that the Ontario government, for one, recognizes […]
Railroaders and safety advocates from across North America have done it again. They’ve rallied the continent’s attention to the sometimes complex issues surrounding rail safety. They’ve educated and engaged communities. They’ve reached people where they are and highlighted that safety is a collective responsibility — everyone has a role to play. Here in Canada, Rail […]
After an unprecedented month, the safe and orderly service restart of Canada’s rail system is now well underway. The economic and reputational damage to Canada as a trading nation is still being tallied. And there will be time to do a proper policy and political post-mortem on how we avoid similar situations from happening again. […]
July started with a first for me and for RAC VP Lora Smith: we headed west for the Calgary Stampede. Over six days in one of Canada’s great rail cities, not only did we learn why the Stampede is called the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth, we also saw firsthand why so many businesspeople converge […]
The RAC team was in Winnipeg last week – alongside other newly minted railroaders at CN’s Claude Mongeau Training Centre – and we saw firsthand the real and concerted emphasis our Class 1s place on railroader safety. Railroading is physical work. It also comes with risk – especially if people take safety shortcuts. One wrong […]
With a second consecutive summer of supply chain uncertainty looming large, the federal government has referred a question to the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB), delaying potential labour disruption that could otherwise have begun on May 22nd. The question is ‘what, if any, rail activity must continue during a strike or lockout at Canada’s two […]
The tabling of the federal budget is always a big deal in Ottawa. Despite two weeks of orchestrated previews and pre-budget announcements across Canada, the federal government reserved several surprises for Budget Day itself. Under Chapter 5, Safer, Healthier Communities, RAC was pleased to see a commitment to renew VIA Rail’s cross-Canada fleet. This will […]