Shifting the needle – Part four: RAC

Do you know what Canadian industry associations are doing to improve business conditions in 2023? Here’s a primer on what some of the major industry groups are tackling this year.

Railway Association of Canada

Mandate

The Railway Association of Canada (RAC) represents approximately 60 member railways and another 60-plus associate members. The RAC advocates on behalf of its members and associate members to ensure that Canada’s rail sector remains globally competitive, sustainable and safe.

We ensure government decision-makers at all levels have the facts they need to develop and implement evidence-based policies and regulations. Canadian railways are among the most regulated entities in Canada. On behalf of its members, the RAC works to ensure that any additional regulations do not have negative consequences nor undermine private-sector investments.

The RAC plays an important education and awareness role by providing hands-on training courses and hosting regular events to keep government officials, first responders, and communities informed and at the forefront of our ever-evolving industry.

Today’s challenges

The federal government is considering imposing additional regulations on Canadian railways. Extending regulated interswitching and the banning of replacement workers in the case of work stoppages, contrary to all available evidence, would only serve to make our supply chains less efficient and less resilient, and hurt performance.

We have shared several suggestions with the federal government to in fact improve supply chains’ efficiency and capacity, and we remain open to all good, fact-based ideas to improve how all supply chain links work together to move Canada forward.

We need more innovation, accountability, and data-sharing from all supply chain players, especially at operational levels. This includes more rigourous scrutiny of not just railways, but of trucking firms, warehouses, storage facilities, rail customers, port terminals, and others.

2023 priorities

In 2023, the RAC is focused on:

1. Ensuring any new economic regulations imposed on Canadian railways actually improve supply chains.

2. Providing fact-based arguments to counter a proposed ban on the use of replacement workers in the rare event of railway work stoppages.

3. Working with member railways and the communities they serve to further improve upon Canada’s enviable rail safety record.

4. Advocating for strategic investments in safety, sustainability, and supply chain capacity.

5. Educating decision-makers (at all levels) about important contributions our freight, commuter, intercommunity, and tourism railways make to Canada’s economy and Canadian society.

Recent wins

Our most recent Rail Trends report clearly outlined railways’ economic and environmental contributions, including advancements in safety. A recent independent study done by CPCS confirmed that Canada’s rail freight rates are the lowest of all market-based economies surveyed and among the lowest in the world.

And the RAC has just completed an important analysis of supply chains’ performance over the pandemic that confirms rail has been a reliable link with strong, consistent performance. In fact, rail-led the reduction in total transit times for bringing Canadian grain to world markets.

These are important evidence-based contributions to the vital supply chain conversations now underway.