7 ROAD TRANSPORTATION
MAJOR EVENTS IN 2002
Regulations
Vehicle Weights and Dimensions
In early 2002, the Atlantic Provinces implemented new vehicle
weight and dimension regulations that established common weight
and dimension limits for all new vehicles starting with model
year 2003. Further changes will be introduced over a transition
period extending until December 2009 to allow trucking companies
to phase out non-complying equipment. Also, in Atlantic Canada,
public consultations were initiated on harmonized special permit
conditions for movements within the region of oversize and overweight
loads.
Ontario continued its policy reform initiative for vehicle
weights and dimensions by focusing on the use of liftable axles
on end-dump semi-trailers and liftable axles on multi-axle semi-trailers
and on double trailer combinations.
The Ministers responsible for transportation in the four western
provinces endorsed two Memoranda of Understanding: one to standardize
the conditions applicable to special permits for movement of overweight
and/or overdimensional indivisible loads; and one to harmonize
special permit conditions for overdimensional movements of hay
bales within the region.
Safety Regulations
Nova Scotia published regulations to bring commercial van and
small bus services under a safety regime based on the National
Safety Code for Motor Carriers. The normal threshold for National
Safety Code standards is for vehicles carrying 10 or more passengers,
including the driver. The Nova Scotia regulations provide, among
other things, for periodic inspection of vehicles and they bring
the drivers under the National Safety Code commercial driver hours
of service regime. The regulations took effect at the beginning
of 2003.
Report of Senate Standing Committee on Transport and Communications
After reviewing the issues facing the Canadian bus industry,
the Senate Standing Committee on Transport and Communications
tabled its report entitled Intercity Bus Service in Canada
in December 2002.
The Committee made a number of recommendations:
- To reverse the onus, over a five-year transition period,
in the entry test to the opponents to prove that a new service
is not in the public interest.
- To implement, with respect to the concerns of possible service
loss on low-density and rural routes from liberalized entry,
a modest transitional (over five years) federal subsidy program
co-funded with the provinces/territories, municipalities and
local businesses, aimed specifically at community bus services
in rural areas.
- To review, at the end of the five years, the entry controls
to determine whether a further liberalization of entry controls
would be required.
The Committee also made the following recommendations: a federal-provincial
review of the National Safety Code provisions to ensure coverage
of small buses and vans used commercially; a re-appraisal of the
problems of bus accessibility; federal-provincial collaboration
to examine how Canada could fully benefit from the environmental
advantages of bus transportation; and possible federal implementation
of the key provisions even without consensus among jurisdictions
and stakeholders.
Major Events in 2002
Infrastructure
Industry Structure
Passenger Transportation
Freight Transportation
Price, Productivity and Financial Performance
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