On Monday a bill to create Rail Safety Awareness Week in Manitoba was passed. Dawson Trail MLA Bob Lagasse was behind the creation of the bill, which was inspired by a tragic event in Ste. Anne last fall. Rail Safety Awareness Week will take place annually the week of the last Friday of September. Plans include for CN Rail representatives to speak at schools and educate students on rail safety.

"It's good for public awareness, it reminds people to be very cognisant of the fact there's rail crossings and to exercise and safety when you're around them," said Derek Sabourin, Reeve for the RM of Montcalm.

The RM of Montcalm has crossings in the community of Letellier and St. Jean.

"There's basically a crossing at every mile from the northern part of the municipality to the southern part," he noted.

Sabourin added his RM hasn't experienced any railway accidents in the recent past. However, last year Mantioba saw 19 railway incidents, resulting in three deaths and five serious injuries.

Also, Canada's Railway Safety Act is currently in review. A panel submitted their findings to the Minister of Transport in May, and recommendations for actions are in the works.

The last Railway Safety Act Review took place in 2007, but many changes have occurred in the railway industry since then. The current review is a result of the tragic Lac-Mégantic accident, where a freight train derailed in Quebec and took the lives of 47 people in 2013.

RM of Morris Reeve Ralph Groening said his RM has about 50 rail crossings. He participated in a survey done last year, but hasn't heard any feedback yet.

"We were required to do a survey to identify all of our rail crossings," said Groening. "We're simply waiting for what is required, or what will be required of us."

He also explained he wants any recommendations made to be cost effective.

"We're interested in the safety of our residents, and people travelling on our roads, now we want to work collaboratively with both federal and provincial government to ensure that the cost of creating safer roadways is not borne mostly by RM taxpayers," he said.

The review process will continue early this summer. Minister of Transport Marc Garneau will host a focused roundtable meeting with stakeholders, including railway companies, railway unions, province and municipal authorities, and community associations.