Teamsters Canada Rail Conference provides a response to new measures announced by the Minister of Transport to improve rail safety

Laval, July 26, 2022 – Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) has reviewed the response from the Minister of Transport regarding three recommendations from the Transportation Safety Board’s (TSB) report for enhanced test standards and time-based maintenance requirements. The main actions proposed by the Minister of Transport are summarized here.

The recommendations and response stem from a fatal derailment near Field, British Columbia on February 4, 2019, which took the lives of three Teamsters brothers: Dylan Paradis, Andrew Dockrell and Daniel Waldenberger-Bulmer. They perished when a loaded grain train ran uncontrolled down a mountain grade and derailed after its air brake system failed.

The TCRC places the safety of its workers and the public as its highest priority and is pleased to see that the Minister of Transport is taking this matter seriously. Teamsters also recognizes that the Minister’s response to the three TSB recommendations shows their dedication towards implementing a plan to enhance safety. The Teamsters will play an important role and will closely monitor the action plan’s implementation to ensure the actions carried out by various stakeholders meet their stated objectives.

Says Lyndon Isaak, President of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, “Today’s announcement is certainly a step in the right direction. The Field Hill derailment devastated the lives of many, and it is our goal to advocate for our members and their families to ensure that the safety of our members is always first and foremost.”

The TCRC is looking forward to working with the Minister and other parties actively involved in the process.

About Teamsters Canada:

Teamsters Canada represents 125,000 workers across Canada across multiple industries, with more than 16,000 of those members working in the rail industry. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, with which Teamsters Canada is affiliated, has 1.4 million members across North America. www.teamsters.ca

For media information:

Paula Worthington
For Teamsters Canada Rail Conference
E: [email protected]
P: (403) 585-2429