Rail transportation supports our economy and quality of life. But the tragic train derailment and explosion in Lac-Mégantic, QC highlighted the potential risks of transporting dangerous goods through our communities. FCM brings municipal rail safety priorities to the federal government and advocates to ensure municipalities have the resources they need to keep their communities safe

The federal government has responded directly to our concerns over issues such as insurance and liability, information sharing and Transport Canada’s oversight of federal railways. In 2016, Ottawa committed $143 million over three years to improve rail safety. In 2018, it accelerated the phase out of legacy DOT/TC-111 rail cars.

We continue to work closely with Transport Canada to improve the safety of Canada’s railways—and to address the concerns of cities and communities.

Related focus areas
Explore the topics we’re working on related to rail safety.

Public safety

Municipalities help keep Canadians safe and secure. We work to ensure that they have the right tools to protect Canadians from crime, health risks and emergencies.
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