Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Canadian Transportation Agency, as today marks the centennial anniversary of the CTA's 100 years at the heart of transportation.
We Canadians have benefited greatly from the work of this independent agency. I congratulate its chair, Ms. Marian L. Robson, its members and staff for their continuing efforts and success.
The origins of this agency can be traced back to the 1903 Railway Act. The first board of railway commissioners took up their tasks in 1904. Through its long history, it has evolved to become the Canadian Transportation Agency that we know today. Originally it was only to cover rail. Today it includes marine and air sectors. It is also responsible for the accessibility of the federal transportation network to persons with disabilities.
Thanks to the Canada Transportation Act, the agency's enabling statute, it can implement the federal government's transportation policy which subsequently makes the CTA an important part of the Canadian transportation hierarchy.