Teamsters Canada Rail Conference

The Teamsters Union submits a memorandum about the bill amending the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act

Three people represented the Teamsters Union before the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities during a meeting held in Ottawa on February 26.

Mike Wheten, Teamsters Canada Rail Conference’s national legislative director, Stéphane Lacroix, director of communications, and Phil Benson, Teamsters Canada lobbyist on Parliament Hill, presented a memorandum to those present about Bill C-9 amending the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act.

Teamsters Canada proposed a change to the Bill, and it was well received by the committee members.

“For years, our organization has participated in this committee’s work and we are satisfied with the Bill’s progress,” explained Phil Benson, Teamsters Canada lobbyist. “Representatives from the various parties have demonstrated open-mindedness and I believe we are finally nearing our goal, for the greatest common good of our members and Canadians in general.”

In addition to participating in the legislative debate concerning the transportation of dangerous goods, Teamsters Canada and its local unions take part in dozens of other committees’ activities that have a direct impact on their members’ lives.

“Thanks to the involvement of dozens of union officials throughout the country, the issues our members are experiencing are discussed in committees, and corrections are made,” noted Robert Bouvier, president of Teamsters Canada. “That’s what unions are also involved in.”

Teamsters Canada will publish a detailed meeting report in the near future.

The Teamsters Union represents 125,000 members in Canada in all trades. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, with which Teamsters Canada is affiliated, has 1.4 million members in North America.