OREANDA-NEWS. September 21, 2016.  The Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport, issued the following statement today on the Transportation Safety Board of Canada's report regarding onboard locomotive voice and video recorders:

"The release of the Transportation Safety Board of Canada's study on locomotive voice and video recorders is a positive development for rail safety.

"The benefits of voice and video recorders are well known, as they can provide an unparalleled understanding of how the crew communicated and acted immediately before an accident.

"As Minister of Transport, I believe that the use of these devices onboard locomotives could be an important element of a comprehensive approach to managing safety, which will help better protect Canadians, their families, and the communities along Canada's rail corridors.

"My officials have already begun working with a number of stakeholders and partners, to identify the best way to use voice and video recorders in Canada, while ensuring that they can be used within the parameters of privacy legislation and policies.

"Over the coming months, Transport Canada will also consult the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada and railway unions to identify ways to address employees' privacy concerns."

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada's report on locomotive voice and video recorders can be found at: http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/rail/etudes-studies/r16h0002/r16h0002.asp.