Canadian Transport Minister David Collenette has announced $17.8 million in funding to assist provinces and territories with implementation of the National Safety Code (NSC) for motor carriers. The Minister made the announcement today in Halifax during a meeting of the Council of Ministers Responsible for Transportation and Highway Safety September 13.
"The National Safety Code is an excellent example of federal, provincial and territorial cooperation to enhance the safety of the travelling public and the competitiveness of the motor carrier industry in North America," said Mr. Collenette. "The Memorandum of Understanding on the National Safety Code endorsed by the Council of Ministers today reaffirms our commitment to achieving greater national harmony in regulations affecting the motor carrier industry in Canada."
The National Safety Code is a comprehensive code of minimum performance standards for the safe operation of commercial vehicles. Developed in 1987 and administered and enforced by the provinces and territories, the NSC encourages trucking safety, promotes efficiency in the motor carrier industry, and harmonizes safety standards. The standards include hours of service, load securement, vehicle maintenance and safety rating.
In addition to today's funding, Transport Canada has contributed $51 million to the provinces and territories to support the NSC. The latest round of funding, to be spent between 2001 and 2004, will be directed towards managing motor carrier operations in accordance with the new NSC safety rating provisions of the Motor Vehicle Transport Act.
"Although domestic traffic has increased by 50 per cent and international traffic has doubled over the past ten years, the collision record of motor carriers has remained relatively stable," added Mr. Collenette. "Transport Canada's continued support of the National Safety Code contributes toward a safe national transportation system."
Funding for this initiative was provided for in the February 2000 budget and is therefore built into the existing financial framework