By paNOW Staff

Sask. communities continue call for rail-content info

Oct 8, 2014 | 4:08 PM

Municipalities across Saskatchewan are keeping a close eye on the fallout of the fiery train derailment near Clair Tuesday.

Cities and small communities alike are questioning what can be done to increase safety or even let the public know about what materials are being shipped near their own homes.

“We’re always concerned when we hear about derailments. First and foremost is public safety and that’s what everybody is concerned about,” said Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) President David Marit.

Rail safety dominated the SARM convention this year. The federal minister of transportation even flew to Regina to address the delegates.

Marit says it’s a balancing act.

National

Ottawa to remove 30% investment cap for Canadian pension funds

3h ago

Budget woes

Golf and curling centre faces grim season without financial boost

6h ago

Raiders AGM

Raiders impact on Prince Albert local economy continues to go up: AGM report

Dec 12, 2024

“Making sure that the industry can still move their product and the railways can work safely and communities are protected,” he said. “It is a tough balance and you just have to do the best you can.”

Regina Mayor Michael Fougere, meanwhile, says he wants the City to have the ability to find out what’s being moved through the city, sooner. Fougere said information about the contents of rail cars are provided to the City only after it has traveled through.

“That is good to know for historical purposes, but not for up to date information. Today, if there was a derailment in Regina, we’d want to know right away what is there.”

Fougere said the push for information is for the safety of first responders.

“They may not know what actually is the cause of the fire, or the explosion or whatever it might be, and we think it just makes for better planning sense, and for public safety and the safety of our responders to know what’s there.”

Marit, however, sees some benefit to having the historical information; rural fire departments would be able to ensure the proper equipment is on hand to deal with disasters. Fougere also admitted that rail lines would provide information about the contents of any rail cars involved in a disaster.

Fougere said he’s always concerned about the rail lines and rail safety, which is why he is taking part in work to find out more. A working group with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities is asking Transport Canada for changes. Fougere said he’s also met with representatives from CN and CP Rails.

With files from CJME’s Lisa Schick and Jill Slater.

news@panow.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow