Presidents Message – August 2025

Summer may bring a slower pace for many sectors, but for Canada’s railways, there’s no such thing as an off-season. Freight continues to move across our trade corridors, passenger rail connects communities for vacations and family reunions, and the workforce continues to deliver safely and reliably in all weather.

Over the past several months, RAC and members have been advancing priorities that strengthen our industry’s role in moving Canada’s economy forward:

• Expanding safety and skills training – Through TRANSCAER and other initiatives, RAC staff trained hundreds of people this summer, including first responders, municipal officials, and industry employees, ensuring communities are equipped with essential rail safety knowledge.
• Advancing our policy agenda – In our 2025 federal pre-budget submission, we reiterated our calls for:
  • Implementing 100% immediate depreciation on supply chain improvements to unlock private sector investment
  • Rejecting calls to reintroduce extended regulated interswitching
  • Addressing the economic impact of labour disruptions and incremental labour regulations
  • Modernizing safety regulations to enable technology adoption
  • Implementing a shortline investment tax credit to revitalize regional supply chains and strengthen first-mile, last-mile connections
  • Granting tariff relief for rail equipment
  • Augmenting operational and capital support for passenger railways
• Driving engagement in Ottawa – We have maintained steady, high-level dialogue with government officials to ensure that rail’s role as a critical supply chain partner, innovation driver, and economic backbone remains front of mind for policy makers.

The months ahead will be critical. Decisions made this fall will influence Canada’s competitiveness for years to come. 

We know what’s on the line. This is our moment to move from steady progress to decisive action. RAC will be there to ensure the Government builds — not burdens — Canadas trade corridors.

Eric