NDP calls on Conservatives to immediately implement TSB recommendations on Lac-Mégantic

The NDP welcomes the recommendations of the Transportation Safety Board following the terrible events in Lac-Mégantic.

“We commend the work of the Transportation Safety Board and we fully support the recommendations issued by both Canadian and US authorities”, said NDP Transport critic, Olivia Chow (Trinity—Spadina). “The Conservatives must take immediate action to stop the shipping of highly flammable crude oil using the old and unsafe DOT 111 tank cars. Inaction is no longer an option. Keeping Canadians safe must be the top priority of the government”.

Recommendations from previous TSB reports on the phasing out of DOT 111 cars have gathered dust without being implemented.

“These unprecedented recommendations of the TSB and US National Transportation Safety Board are a mandatory action plan for the Conservatives. The half measures proposed by the Minister last summer, after shutting down our request for comprehensive study, were clearly not enough” said Hoang Mai, NDP Transport deputy critic (Brossard—La Prairie).

The TSB recommendations must be implemented and information on rail safety must be available to municipalities and Canadians.