The impacts of deregulation and the US-Canada free trade agreement on Canadian transportation modes

Abstract

Within the last five years the transportation industry in Canada has had to adjust to two major policy developments: the free trade treaty with the USA and deregulation. This paper attempts a preliminary assessment of the impacts of these initiatives on the major Canadian transport modes. While the available evidence suggests that some of the effects on the modes have been generally favourable, the paper argues that the policies will substantially limit the government's ability to influence Canadian transportation in the future.