604.691.7431
- Counsel to Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries Inc. in its level of service complaint against Canadian National Railway Company, culminating in Canadian Transportation Agency Decision CONF-R-12-2023
- Co-counsel to Meadow Lake Mechanical Pulp Inc. (MLMP) in its level of service complaint against Canadian National Railway Company (CN) culminating in Canadian Transportation Agency Letter Decision CONF-R-2-2023, including successful defense of CN’s motion for leave to appeal that decision, and the Agency’s determination of expenses payable to MLMP due to CN’s service failures in Agency Decision-CONF-R-9-2023
- Counsel to Richardson International Limited in its application against Canadian National Railway Company for regulated and extended interswitching at Edmonton and Scotford, Alberta, culminating in Canadian Transportation Agency Decision 62-R-2021
- Co-counsel to Gibraltar Mines Limited in its 2020 final offer arbitration against Canadian National Railway and 2020 judicial review
- Counsel to the Forest Products Association of Canada in the Canadian Transportation Agency’s 2019 investigation of freight rail service issues in the Vancouver area, culminating in Canadian Transportation Agency Letter Decision CONF-9-2019, including successful defense of CN’s appeal of that decision in the Federal Court of Appeal and CN’s motion for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada
- Co-counsel to Gibraltar Mines Ltd. in its 2018 final offer arbitration against Canadian National Railway and 2019 judicial review
- Appeared on behalf of the Western Canadian Shippers’ Coalition before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in 2017
- Counsel to Richardson International Limited in its application against Canadian National Railway Company for regulated interswitching in respect of traffic originating on a provincial shortline, culminating in Canadian Transportation Agency Decision Letter Decision CONF-4-2016
- Appeared on behalf of the Western Canadian Shippers’ Coalition in the 2014-2015 statutory review of the Canada Transportation Act
- Co-counsel to Richardson International Limited in its application against Canadian National Railway Company for regulated interswitching at Emerson, Manitoba, culminating in Canadian Transportation Agency Decision 466-R-2013, including the successful defense of CN’s appeal of that decision in the Federal Court of Appeal
- Counsel to the Town of Bengough and the Rural Municipality of Souris Valley No. 7 in their successful appeals of Canadian Transportation Agency decisions respecting the net salvage value of railway lines in the Province of Saskatchewan
- Co-counsel to Xstrata Canada Corporation in its 2009 successful final offer rate arbitration against Canadian National Railway Company and subsequent judicial review of the arbitrator’s decision
- Co-counsel to a group of forest products companies in their 2009 application against Canadian National Railway Company (CN) regarding the reasonableness of CN’s demurrage rules and charges
- Co-counsel to Grande Prairie Airport Commission in proceedings before the Canadian Transportation Appeal Tribunal
- Co-counsel to Luscar Ltd. in its 2006 final offer rate arbitration against Canadian National Railway Company and successful defense of CN’s application for a stay of the arbitration
- Appeared on behalf of rail shipper associations before the Canada Transportation Act Review Panel in 2001
- Transportation regulatory counsel to Exchange Income Corporation in its 2010 acquisition of Bearskin Lake Air Service, its 2012 acquisition of Custom Helicopters Ltd. and its 2015 acquisition of Provincial Aerospace
- Transportation regulatory counsel to Exchange Industrial Income Fund in its 2005 acquisition of Keewatin Air Limited and its 2009 acquisitions of Calm Air International and HMY Airways Inc.
- Transportation regulatory counsel to Perimeter Airlines in its 2004 acquisition by Exchange Income Fund
- Lead or co-counsel in numerous final offer arbitrations for rail shippers in the mining, forest products, oil and gas and automotive industries against Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway
- Advised shippers in the mining, forest products, oil and gas, grain, automotive and chemical industries in negotiations of rail transportation contracts and related agreements
- Provided strategic transportation advice to proponents of greenfield mining projects and industrial development projects
- Counsel to provincial and municipal governments in negotiations and regulatory proceedings relating to the acquisition of railway lands and trackage for shortline operations and in-land ports
- Represented airlines in complaint proceedings under the Canada Transportation Act
- Represented and advised motor carriers and shippers on trucking contracts, bills of lading, cargo claims, National Safety Code certification and regulatory compliance
Lucia Stuhldreier*
Language(s) Spoken
- English
Lucia Stuhldreier is respected for her legal expertise in matters involving ground transportation and aviation and as a tenacious litigator in administrative and public law. She is consistently recognized as a leading lawyer in the Transportation: Rail & Road category by Chambers Canada.
Acting for rail shippers in connection with rail transportation agreements, Lucia negotiates rates and service matters, and agreements for the construction, acquisition and shared use of rail trackage. She also advises clients on rail transportation policy, and regulatory matters relating to aviation and truck transportation.
Lucia has extensive experience in rail regulatory proceedings before the Canadian Transportation Agency and arbitrations relating to rail freight rates, service issues, interswitching and railway line discontinuance as well as related judicial review and appellate proceedings. She has appeared before the Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada, the Manitoba Motor Transport Board, the Saskatchewan Highway Transport Board, all levels of court in Manitoba, the Federal Court and the Federal Court of Appeal.
Expertise
Industries
Practices
Representative Matters
Speaking Engagements
The Hottest Ticket in Town: M&A Events in the Rail Industry Today, 2021 Annual General Meeting & Educational Conference, Speaker
October 22, 2021 More detailsPlay Ball! The Canadian baseball-arbitration process for rail rate disputes and adopting a similar process in the US ATLP 91st Annual Meeting
June 30, 2020Data Solutions for Enhancing Transportation Performance Railway Line Capacity Metrics CTRF 2020 Annual Conference
June 5, 2020Teaching Engagements
- Instructor, “Legal Issues in Transportation”, Transport Institute at the Asper School of Business, University of Manitoba (2006 – 2015)
News
Rankings & Recognition
- Recognized in the 2025 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Consistently Recommended lawyer in the area of Transportation (Rail & Road)
- Recognized by Chambers Canada (2025) as a leading lawyer in the area of Transportation: Rail & Road
- Recognized in the 2024 Lexpert Special Edition on Canada’s Leading Infrastructure Lawyers
- Recognized in the 2024 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Consistently Recommended Lawyer in the area of Transportation (Road and Rail) and a Repeatedly Recommended Lawyer in the area of Aviation (Regulation & Liability)
- Recognized by Chambers Canada (2024) as a leading lawyer in the area of Transportation: Rail & Road
- Recognized in the 2023 Lexpert Special Edition on Canada’s Leading Infrastructure Lawyers as an Infrastructure Lawyer
- Recognized in the 2023 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Consistently Recommended Lawyer in the area of Transportation (Rail & Road) and a Repeatedly Recommended Lawyer in the area of Aviation
- Recognized by Chambers Canada (2023) as a leading lawyer in the area of Transportation: Rail & Road
- Recognized in the 2022 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Repeatedly Recommended Lawyer in the area of Transportation (Rail & Road)
- Recognized by Chambers Canada (2022) as a leading lawyer in the area of Transportation: Rail & Road
- Recognized in the 2021 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Repeatedly Recommended Lawyer in the area of Transportation (Rail & Road)
- Recognized by Chambers Canada 2021 as a leading lawyer in the area of Transportation: Rail & Road
- Listed in the Legal500 Canada 2020 as a “Recommended Lawyer” – Transport
- Recognized by Chambers Canada 2020 as a leading lawyer in the area of Transportation: Rail and Road
- Recognized by Chambers Canada 2019 as a leader in Transportation: Rail & Road
- Recognized by Chambers Canada 2018 in Transportation: Rail & Road – Nationwide – Canada
- Recognized by Chambers Canada 2017 in Transportation: Rail & Road – Nationwide – Canada
Community Involvement
- Aviation Management Advisory Committee, Red River College, Member (2005 – 2007), Chairperson (2007 – 2012)
- Musik Barock Ensemble, Board Member (2002 – 2005)
Directorships & Affiliations
- Canadian Bar Association
- Canadian Transport Lawyers Association
Education & Admissions
2016
Called to the British Columbia bar
1998
Called to the Manitoba bar
1997
LLBUniversity of Manitoba
1986
BA (Honours), PhilosophyUniversity of Manitoba
Publications
- “Setting the Record Straight: Fair Rail Coalition’s Response to Public Claims and Analyses Regarding International Rail Freight Rate Comparisons“, Proceedings of the 59th Annual Conference of the Canadian Transportation Research Forum (May 2024)
- “Yours or mine: A history of interswitching in Canada“, Proceedings of the 59th Annual Conference of the Canadian Transportation Research Forum (May 2024)
- “Consequences or conjectures: The impact of extending railway interswitching limits“, Proceedings of the 59th Annual Conference of the Canadian Transportation Research Forum (May 2024)
- “Railway Line Capacity Metrics,” Planning in Times of Unprecedented Change and Uncertainty, Proceedings of the 55th Annual Conference of the Canadian Transportation Research Forum (June 2020)
- “The Regulation of Interswitching in Canada,” published in the Journal of Transportation Law, Logistics and Policy, Volume 90, Number 2 (2023)
Insights (26 Posts)View More
Presentations of McMillan’s Rail Group at the Canadian Transportation Research Forum
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Sep 4, 2024
Lexology Panoramic’s Rail Transport Guide 2024
The 2024 edition of Lexology Panoramic’s Rail Transport stands as the foremost and extensive repository of information on global railroad laws.
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Feb 1, 2024
Rail Policy Work
McMillan’s Rail Transportation Group regularly makes submissions to both Houses of Parliament, Transport Canada, the Canadian Transportation Agency and other bodies in connection with rail regulatory and economic policy on its own behalf and on behalf of clients.
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Jan 31, 2024
Comparative Analysis of Canadian Rail Freight Rates
A discussion about Canadian rail freight rates and their impact on Canadian Shippers.
Jan 12, 2024
The Rail Shippers’ Guide
The Rail Shippers’ Guide provides a high-level overview of your rights and remedies when shipping freight by rail under the Canada Transportation Act and related regulations
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Aug 8, 2023
2023 Budget Legislation Proposes Amendments to the Canada Transportation Act
The Federal Government published draft legislation to implement certain provisions of the 2023 Budget.
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May 3, 2023
Budget Foreshadows Significant Changes to Federal Transportation Regulation
On March 28th, the Government of Canada tabled its 2023 Budget, which foreshadows significant proposed changes to the federal transportation regulatory regime.
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Apr 12, 2023
Transport Canada Finalizes Amendments to the Transportation Information Regulations
The Amendments become effective in April 2023 and will increase the availability of basic rail freight service and performance data, primarily by CN and CP.
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Jan 16, 2023
A Call to Address Canada’s Transportation Supply Chain Crisis: Final Report – Part III
The Canada Transportation Act contains a few shipper remedies, which are partially or wholly ineffective, but which remain unaddressed.
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Nov 16, 2022
A Call to Address Canada’s Transportation Supply Chain Crisis: Final Report – Part II
Modernizing the Rail Transportation System in the National Public Interest
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Oct 25, 2022
A Call to Address Canada’s Transportation Supply Chain Crisis: Final Report
The National Supply Chain Task Force underscores what rail shippers are facing: the Canadian transportation network is under stress.
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Oct 18, 2022
CN Rail Acquires H&R Transport – Competition Analysis
The Competition Bureau's review of the CN/H&R highlights its attention to non-notifiable deals, its use of oral examinations and the efficiencies defence.
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May 1, 2020
The Transport Finance Law Review – Edition 6
The Transport Finance Law Review is intended to provide the industry with a guide to transport finance today globally.
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Apr 29, 2020
Transport Canada Relaxes Mandatory Off-Duty Time for Truck Drivers Transporting Essential Cargo
March 24 2020 after consultation with the provinces an exemption was issued permitting trucking companies and drivers to exceed maximum on-duty and driving time
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Mar 30, 2020
Don’t Count Your Efficiencies Before They Hatch: Exploring The Factors That Impact A Railway’s Operating Ratio
Canadian Pacific Railway (“CP”) has significantly reduced its operating ratio in the past few years.
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Jul 22, 2019
The Transport Finance Law Review – Edition 5
Canadian transportation policy is continuously evolving
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May 10, 2019
Canadian Transportation Agency rules on Vancouver rail embargoes in first own motion investigation
The Canadian Transportation Agency (Agency) has issued a Determination (see the Agency’s corresponding announcement here) following its investigation into freight rail service in the Vancouver area.
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Apr 16, 2019
Regulations Implementing the Transportation Modernization Act
On April 1, 2019, the Canadian Transportation Agency (“Agency”) announced the publication of proposed regulations (the “Proposed Regulations”) in the Canada Gazette to implement certain aspects of the Transportation Modernization Act (Bill C-49) (“TMA”).
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Apr 11, 2019
The Transport Finance Law Review – Edition 4
The Canada chapter in Getting the Deal Through - Banking Regulation 2018 provides an overview of the regulations governing the banking industry in Canada
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Jun 4, 2018
Bill C-49: Some Welcome Improvements to Rail Service Level Arbitration
Bill C-49: Some Welcome Improvements to Rail Service Level Arbitration
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Jun 13, 2017
Bill C-49: Is the Long-Haul Interswitching Remedy Really New?
Regulators Rethink "Best Interest" Standard for Registrants
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May 30, 2017
‘Trick or Tweak’ – Proposed Relaxation of Foreign Ownership Restrictions
‘Trick or Tweak' – Proposed Relaxation of Foreign Ownership Restrictions
for Canadian Air Carriers
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May 18, 2017
Bill C-49: Government of Canada Proposes to Amend the Canada Transportation Act
Bill C-49: Government of Canada Proposes to Amend the Canada Transportation Act
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May 16, 2017
The Minister of Transport Confirms Rail Legislation Coming in Spring Session
The Minister of Transport, Marc Garneau, has addressed a letter to the Chair of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities (“SCOTIC”) that confirms the government is on track to table remedial rail legislation in the House of Commons during the spring legislative session.
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Apr 1, 2017
Canadian Transportation Agency Closes Railway Capital Structure Consultation
Canadian Transportation Agency Closes Railway Capital Structure Consultation
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Jan 3, 2017
Deals & Cases (7 Posts)
McMillan Wins a Level of Service Order for Alberta Pacific Forest Industries Inc., CONF-R-12-2023
In August 2022, Alberta Pacific Forest Industries Inc. filed a level of service complaint with the Canadian Transportation Agency against Canadian National Railway Company.
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Nov 9, 2023
McMillan Successfully Secures Compensation for Meadow Lake Mechanical Pulp Inc.
McMillan’s Rail Transportation group filed a successful level of service complaint on behalf of Meadow Lake Mechanical Pulp Inc. (“MLMP”) against Canadian National Railway Company (“CN”) decided in MLMP’s favour by the Canadian Transportation Agency (“CTA”) in February 2023.
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Oct 17, 2023
McMillan Mounts Successful Defence on Behalf of Meadow Lake Mechanical Pulp Inc.
McMillan mounted a successful defence against the Canadian National Railway Company’s motion for leave to appeal the Canadian Transportation Agency Letter Decision No. CONF-R-2-2023.
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May 23, 2023
Canadian Government to Require More Data from Railways to Help Strengthen Canada’s Supply Chain
On behalf of Western Canadian Shippers’ Coalition, the McMillan team, led by Lucia Stuhldreier, prepared written submissions to Transport Canada in respect of significant proposed amendments to the Transportation Information Regulations.
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Jul 6, 2022
McMillan successfully represents FPAC at both the Federal Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada
On behalf of the Forest Products Association of Canada, McMillan filed a written argument opposing an application by Canadian National Railway Company for leave to appeal a decision of the Federal Court of Appeal dismissing CN’s appeal of decision of Canadian Transportation Agency.
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Apr 7, 2022
Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC)
Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC)
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Dec 1, 2019
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