Canadian government awards rail safety education funds

Canadian Transport Minister Marc Garneau yesterday announced the award of CA$225,330 in funding for programs to educate and raise public awareness about the safe transportation of dangerous goods.

The Chemistry Industry Association of Canada will receive $219,750 over three years for its Transportation Community Awareness and Emergency Response initiative to construct a new safety train, a railway tank car that will be converted into a classroom on wheels for the training of emergency responders; develop virtual reality educational tools that can be used in remote communities; and deliver training sessions for communities and emergency responders using those tools.

Garneau also announced Safe Rail Communities Inc. will receive CA$5,580 over three years to continue promoting its Rail Safety Toolkit, raising awareness and distributing copies to First Nations communities; and make toolkit resources available through community outreach efforts and public service announcements.

"A safe and secure transportation system is important to Canada's economy and communities,” Garneau said in a press release. “This investment will help enhance educational tools and outreach efforts to help underserved regions of the country.”