New rail reporting on propane data can support advocacy efforts

New amendments to the Transportation Information Regulations regarding freight rail data were announced in the Canada Gazette, Part II in December. They include changes to data reporting and result in propane now being included in the data collected for commodities transported in Canada. The previous reporting did not require specific information on propane as a commodity. 

This new change is important as it provides a clearer picture of propane use across the country, at least from a high level. The changes were made after the original amendments to the regulations were published in Canada Gazette, Part I.

The Gazette stated: “Certain commodity sub-groupings have also been identified for distinct national level reporting under some indicators (e.g., propane, along with distinct reporting for canola oil and canola meal). So, for example, propane will be reported as part of the petroleum products commodity group provincially but will be reported on its own as a distinct sub-group at the national level. Some modifications have also been made to the destination dwell time indicator to protect against disclosure of sensitive information.”

Not only will this amendment support the industry by providing useful data on propane use, but the inclusion of propane in commodity reporting newly identifies it as an important commodity, and more data is required to understand how important its use is across the country.

For more information contact SVP Regulatory Affairs and Safety, Robert Loenhart.