Policy and regulatory reforms in all modes are required to support the nation's trade growth, to optimize the use of existing infrastructure, and to ensure that shippers and travelers across the country have access to a safe, efficient and effective transportation system.

The nation's infrastructure challenges must be a focal point in the policy arena. In the same manner that sustainable, long-term funding is essential to the development and maintenance of transportation infrastructure across Canada, so too is a responsive and flexible policy and regulatory framework. This is particularly the case for modes where the responsibility for funding and operating infrastructure rests with non-governmental third parties. While many of these third parties have financing mechanisms in place to generate investment funds for capital expansion, the focus of policy for these modes must be to facilitate access to both public and private funding.

We need to look constantly for ways to reduce or eliminate regulatory burden, and for ways to harmonize regulations.