Burnaby-New Westminster MP Peter Julian is calling on the prime minister to take swift action to prevent future rail accidents and disasters.
On Jan. 11, seven rail cars carrying coal derailed in Burnaby, with three cars spilling coal into Silver Creek and contaminating the water. Julian said communities like New Westminster, Burnaby and others across Canada are increasingly concerned with the federal governments’ “irresponsible approach” to railway safety.
Julian is calling on Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government to require that railway companies alert municipalities when trains carrying hazardous materials move through their jurisdictions, and to include local municipalities in the federal government’s review process.
“The Lac-Megantic tragedy that claimed 47 lives last summer exposed glaring railway safety deficiencies. The more recent railway accidents involving the spill or combustion of hazardous materials, have left residents and communities across our country fearful for their safety,” he wrote in a letter to the prime minister. “Clearly, the rules governing railway transport and safety are antiquated. They belong to an era where railway tracks were not integrated in our urban centres.”
Julian believes the federal government needs to tack action to ensure that railway companies are required to provide advance information about the kind of materials being transported by their trains traveling through local municipalities. He said this “information gap” hinders emergency response readiness and makes it more difficult for firefighters and first responders to fully prepare for potential accidents.
“The policy of self regulation which allows railway companies to police their own safety has spectacularly failed,” he wrote. “Regulatory weaknesses that decrease the level of readiness of first responders must be addressed. Your government should no longer compromise public safety by depending on the voluntary compliance of railway companies.”
In addition to writing to the prime minister, Julian submitted a Question on the Order Paper in the House of Commons to the Ministry of Transport requesting a detailed response on railway security issues, within 45 days.
B.C. Greens lay groundwork for New Westminster riding
The Green Party of Canada is laying the groundwork to form a new riding association in New Westminster.
The Greens will be meeting on Friday, Feb. 7 at the Heritage Grill at 447 Columbia St. The gathering begins with a social from 6:30 to 8 p.m., which includes a chance to meet with Adam Olsen, interim leader of the B.C. Green Party.
The Greens will meet from 8 to 9 p.m. to form the new New Westminster-Burnaby Electoral District Association.
“This is necessary since the recent federal EDA boundary changes left New Westminster and part of Burnaby without a riding association,” explains Rod Brindamour, CEO of the New Westminster-Coquitlam Green Party of Canada EDA.
Everyone is welcome to attend, as Green Party executive meetings are not closed. The only possible in camera components would be proposed new or revised policies, but not are anticipated to be raised at this meeting.
For more information, contact Rod Brindamour at [email protected].
Fin Donnelly delivers Canada Post petition
New Westminster-Coquitlam MP Fin Donnelly will be delivering a petition to Ottawa signed by 1,800 people wanting door-to-door mail service.
In response to the Conservative’s decision to end door-to-door mail delivery, the Federal NDP introduced a motion in the House of Commons that would support maintenance of this service. The motion was debated and defeated.
“People have reached out to me and my office through letters, petitions and phone calls, demanding the government reverse these cuts,” Donnelly said in a press release. “Constituents made it clear to me they value their public postal service; they want Canada Post to scrap this short-sighted plan.”
The motion, sponsored by NDP transport critic Olivia Chow, stated that door-to-door mail delivery is a valuable service provided by Canada Post. It recommended opposition to Canada becoming the only country in the G7 without such a service.
In addition to cutting door-to-door services in the coming years, the Conservative government also announced hikes to stamp prices.
