TBWG – Ottawa Update

TBWG – Ottawa UpdateMinneapolis, April 20, 2011

Ted MackayTransport Canada

OVERVIEW

• Election• Economic Outlook• Transport Canada Updates• Atlantic Gateway Release• Amtrak Train Extension• Border Infrastructure and Statistics

FEDERAL ELECTION - CANADA

• May 2nd, 2011• “First past the post”• Vote for parties only• Main Parties:

– Liberal– Conservative– NDP– Bloc Québécois– Green

Canada’s Economic Action Plan

HIGHWAY AND BORDER POLICY

• Gateways and Border Crossings Fund• Workshops

– Greening Transportation at the Border– Border Master Planning Peer Exchange– Cross-Border Rail Peer Exchange

• Two studies underway• OBIC = Border Crossing Database

SURFACE SECURITY

• Joint vulnerability assessments of international bridges and tunnels

• NORAD/U.S. NORTHCOM meeting

ROAD SAFETY

• Canada’s Road Safety Strategy 2015

• Death toll falling– 2,419 (2008)– 2,761 (2007)

• Link: http://www.ccmta.ca/crss-2015/index.php

RAIL FREIGHT SERVICE REVIEW

• Review of ongoing issues raised by users (2008-2011)

• Panel’s recommendations accepted

• Table and grain study also planned

• East coast gateway to North America• Measures affecting infrastructure, policies,

regulations and operational matters• Marketing the gateway is a key priority

identified in the plan

ATLANTIC GATEWAY ANNOUNCED

AMTRAK EXTENSION

• Amtrak Vancouver-Seattle second daily train service set to end on Oct. 31, 2010

• Fees waived for another year

• Extended to Oct. 31, 2011

INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATES• Peace Bridge Plaza (Dec. 2010)• Queenston plaza phase II (Jan. 2011)

DETROIT-WINDSOR BRIDGE

• Governor Snyder supports a bridge

• Construction on the Ontario highway connection is beginning

• Michigan still needs to pass P3 legislation

BORDER STATISTICS 2010 / 2009

2010 2009

Daily two-way truck movements 28,814 26,767

Daily two-way car/other 140,728 129,151

Total Canada-U.S. trade $501B $456 B

Daily road trade $797M $740M

Daily rail trade $233M $238M

RECENT REPORTS / STUDIES

• Strengthening Our Ties: Four Steps Toward a More Successful Canada-U.S. Partnership

• Canada Gambit: Will it Revive North America?

Questions?Ted Mackay,

Director, Highway and Border PolicyTransport Canada

613-991-5981ted.mackay@tc.gc.ca