WINNIPEG, Manitoba — The Canadian government on Thursday announced a series of steps to streamline shipping regulations and improve use of digital information in Canada’s supply chain, moves Transport Minister Omar Alghabra described as “a first step toward addressing recommendations by the National Supply Chain task force.”
The moves announced Thursday, backed by a government commitment of C$17 million over five years, include developing ways to eliminate paperwork and develop electronic shipping documents for the transport of dangerous goods by rail, road, or air, and amending the Canada Transportation Act to allow Transport Canada to provide digital service to transport operators in all modes. Specific actions for maritime and air cargo are also included.
“Today’s announcement is about ensuring that goods are able to be shipped more easily to where they need to go by cutting tape and streamlining regulations across our supply chain,” Alghabra said.
The National Supply Chain Task force, formed earlier this year, issued its final report earlier this month offering a series of recommendations to address Canadian transportation issues [see “Canadian task force issues final report …,” Trains News Wire, Oct. 7, 2022].
If they can get all the modes of transportation to agree on a centralized computer tracking system. It should go a long way to simplify shippers and receivers getting up to date information on items being shipped. It may also help to identify where possible bottlenecks to the various transport modes happens and help find solutions to help keep the various modes fluid.