Turns out it is the Federal Ministry of Transport, aka Transport Canada.
Canada’s Transportation Safety Board has recommended federal regulators urgently review railway safety procedures in the wake of the runaway train that killed 50 people in Lac-Mégantic, Que., earlier this month.
The TSB announced today that it has issued two urgent safety advisories rather than waiting for the results of its investigation, which is expected to take months.
Transport Canada should review its rules for securing equipment, including company-specific instructions, and ensure trains carrying dangerous goods aren’t left unattended on main railroad tracks, said the TSB.
Newly minted Transport Minister Lisa Raitt said she has directed Transport Canada to review the TSB recommendations on an “expedited basis.”
Lead investigator Don Ross said the braking force on the train hauling 72 cars of petroleum products wasn’t strong enough to hold it on the 1.2 per cent grade where it was left, unattended, by a single operator at the end of his shift. If proper safety procedures had been in place - procedures removed under the Harper government - the train would not have been left unattended.
As is the way with the Harper government all branches of government are being told to cut back on things considered "frivolous" and apparently public safety is frivolous and not worth burdening train operators with additional safety protocols and safety inspections.
Not having to conduct regularly scheduled safety inspections means Transport Canada saves over a million dollars per year in reduced staffing costs.
Explain that to the 50 people killed by the Lac-Megantic runaway train.
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