Canadians have communicated their concerns for rail, pipeline and marine safety in light of the increased movement of oil and gas forecast for the near future. The rail disaster in Lac-Mégantic led our government to implement actions to address more rigorous regulations and monitoring of rail safety. More inspectors have been hired and over $100 million invested in our rail safety system.
We have also increased fines for companies found breaking regulations and required each railway to have an executive legally responsible for safety.
Canada has a safety record of 99.999 per cent for federally regulated pipelines. Our government has already taken action by increasing the number of pipeline inspections, doubling the number of audits and implementing fines for companies that break environmental regulations. Canada is the first country in the world to bring forward a $1 billion absolute liability limit.
For decades, 100,000 kilometres of pipeline moved oil and gas in Canada. Pipelines are the safest way to transport our fuel energy to Canadians. Anyone that drives a vehicle or heats their home with natural gas relies on pipelines. Other than rare human error, the system has been flawless.
Internationally, 80 per cent of crude oil is shipped by oil tankers, and in 2012, not even one oil spill was related to oil tankers. New double-hulled oil tanker design as well as improved global positioning and satellite monitoring has assisted in making crude oil transportation by tankers safer than it has ever been.
Our human existence will never be risk-free, but your government has implemented checks and balances to transport safety. Canadians can be assured that we are protecting citizens and our natural environment to the best of our ability. The only way to be risk-free is to shut everything down, and that is not an option.
– Colin Mayes
