Mr. Brian Flemming, a former educator, policy advisor and director of a number of public companies, will chair the panel.

Mr. Jean Patenaude, who has over 20 years of experience in transportation and law, will serve as vice-chair.

The panel will also include:

Mr. Glen Findlay, a farmer and former Minister of Highways and Transportation in Manitoba.

The Honourable Robert Keith Rae, former Premier of Ontario and leader of the New Democratic Party of Ontario.

Dr. William G. Waters II, professor and director of the Centre for Transportation Studies at the University of British Columbia.

"This is a very important undertaking for Canada’s transportation system, which will require consultation with key stakeholders, including the users and providers of transportation services," said Mr. Collenette. "I appreciate the panelists’ willingness to undertake this challenge, and look forward to their reports and recommendations."

The CTA, which came into effect in 1996, requires — within four years — a comprehensive review of the Act and any other act of Parliament for which the Minister of Transport is responsible, pertaining to the economic regulation of a mode of transportation and transportation activities under the legislative authority of Parliament.

The final report of the panel must be submitted by July 1, 2001.

The review panel will specifically consider ways to increase competition in the railway sector, including enhanced running rights, proposals for regional railways, and other access concepts. These concepts need to be assessed in the broader context of increasing North American integration, and ensuring cost-effective service for shippers over the long term.

An interim report on access issues must be submitted by December 31, 2000.

Minister Collenette has asked that the review panel also consider other issues such as: the effectiveness of the legislative and regulatory environment to sustain capital expenditures required to enhance productivity and promote innovation; support for Canadian transportation stakeholders in meeting global logistics requirements and adapting to the new e-business environment; public policy issues that may emerge from newly arising industry structures; government powers to support sustainable development objectives; and the advisability of measures to preserve urban rail corridors for future mass-transit use.

"This review will assess whether the Act and related legislation provide Canadians with an efficient, effective, flexible and affordable transportation system," said Mr. Collenette. "The review may also recommend amendments to the national policy and to the legislation where necessary or desirable."

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BIOGRAPHIES

CANADA TRANSPORTATION ACT REVIEW

PANEL MEMBERS

Mr. Glen Marshall Findlay was elected in 1986 as the MLA for Virden, Manitoba. In 1988, he became Minister of Agriculture and Minister responsible for Telecommunications for the Government of Manitoba. In 1990 he was elected as the MLA for Springfield, Manitoba, and held the same responsibilities until 1993, when he was appointed Manitoba Minister of Highways and Transportation and Minister responsible for Telecommunications. Mr. Findlay retired in 1999 and currently owns and operates a family farm in Shoal Lake, Manitoba.

Mr. Findlay holds a doctorate in nutritional science from the University of Illinois, and received a B.SC Ag. and a master's degree from the University of Manitoba. Following post-doctoral research funded by the National Research Council of Canada, he was a professor with the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Manitoba from 1970 to 1977.

In addition to working with professional organizations, Mr. Findlay has been involved in numerous community activities.

Mr. Brian Flemming, CM, QC, is a Halifax consultant, columnist and lawyer. He graduated in science from Saint Mary’s University, and in law from the Dalhousie Law School, University College London and the Hague Academy of International Law. He was admitted to the Nova Scotia Bar in 1963, made a Queen’s Counsel in 1978, and called to the Ontario Bar in 1981. He practiced law for many years with Stewart McKelvey Stirling and Scales, and its predecessor firms.

Between 1970 and 1976, he was a member and vice-chairman of the Canada Council, and director of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. He also taught commercial law at Saint Mary’s University and public international law at Dalhousie University for many years. He is currently a member of the Institute for Research on Public Policy, the International Oceans Institute, and the Pearson College of the Pacific. He is a former director of Noranda Inc., VGM Capital, and Brunswick Mining. He has led, or been part of, many Canadian delegations to international conferences and meetings, and was founding chair of the International Centre for Ocean Development. In recent years, he led the group that successfully commercialized Marine Atlantic’s Bay of Fundy ferry services for the Government of Canada.

From 1976 to 1979, Mr. Flemming was Assistant Principal Secretary to the Rt. Hon. Pierre Trudeau. In 1984, he left active law practice to pursue private business interests. Currently, in addition to serving as a consultant, Mr. Flemming writes a weekly column for the Halifax Daily News. He is writing a book on the future of government regulation in the information economy.

Mr. Flemming was awarded the Order of Canada in 1989 for his contributions to law and his volunteer community activities. He received the Canada 125 medal and, in 1991, he received an honourary doctorate from the University of King’s College, where he is currently chairman of its Board of Governors.

Mr. Jean Patenaude received both a BA and a degree in law from the University of Ottawa and was admitted to the Quebec Bar in 1976. He has over 20 years of experience in transportation and law. 

Mr. Patenaude was counsel to the Canadian Transport Commission in both the National Capital Region and in the Commission’s Western division, where he participated in the planning of the Canadian western rail network and the development of recommendations for the transportation of dangerous goods by rail.

Mr. Patenaude served as general counsel for VIA Rail Canada Inc., and as a policy advisor for the Department of Transport and for the Railway Safety Act Committee. Most recently, he has been Vice-Chairperson of the Canadian Transportation Agency.

The Honourable Robert Keith Rae is currently a partner at the Canadian international law firm of Goodman Phillips & Vineberg. He has extensive experience in negotiation, mediation and arbitration. Mr. Rae led the New Democratic Party of Ontario from 1982 to 1996, and became the Premier of Ontario in 1990.

Among his numerous academic credentials are a BA and an LLB from the University of Toronto, a B. Phil. degree from Oxford University, and Honourary Doctorates of Laws from both the Law Society of Upper Canada and the University of Toronto. Mr. Rae was named Queen’s Counsel in 1984, and was appointed to Her Majesty’s Privy Council in 1998.

He is the president of the Forum of Federations, chairman of the Royal Conservatory of Music, and a director of the Canadian Ditchley Foundation. He recently served as the chief negotiator in the restructuring of the Canadian Red Cross Society. He is a panel member of the International Trade Disputes Tribunal, and a panel member of international commercial arbitrators with the Canadian Council for International Business. Mr. Rae is a member of the Security and Intelligence Review Committee for Canada.

Dr. William G. Waters II is currently a professor and director at the Centre for Transportation Studies in the faculty of Commerce and Business Administration at the University of British Columbia. He has been with the university for 30 years, and has had visiting appointments at Oxford University and the Universities of Sydney and Tasmania. He has taught 20 different university courses covering economics, transportation, and government-business relations, and has published extensively on many transportation-related topics. 

Dr. Waters has been a consultant to various organizations including the Economic Council of Canada, the World Bank, the Association of American Railroads, and co-authored the background report for the Transportation Industry Forum of the 1997 APEC Conference. He is also a past president of the Canadian Transportation Research Forum (CTRF) and is serving on the Forum’s board of directors this year. He was also editor-in-chief, Transportation Research, E (the Logistics and Transportation Review).

He is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Transport and has received the Distinguished Member Award from the Transportation and Public Utilities Group of the American Economics Association.