Top officials for Transport Canada were grilled by MPs in Ottawa this week, after the MP for Skeena-Bulkley Valley initiated six days of hearings on the matter.
Rail safety in this part of the country has been a long-standing issue, especially since the Lac Megantic disaster in Quebec a decade ago. In 2021 an Auditor Generals report found that although Transport Canada made important improvements to safety oversight planning and inspections across the country, it failed to ensure those plans actually improved rail safety on the ground.
In 2019, there were 1,245 rail accidents, 17% higher than the previous 10-year average of 1,064, according to the report.
As more export terminals come online in the Port of Prince Rupert, and the prospect of more dangerous goods, like diesel, propane and other hazardous materials travelling through Northwest, B.C., Bachrach, pressed Transport Canada officials this week about emergency preparedness plans and risk assessment reports, which Transport Canada has kept confidential.
