Policy Overview

Transportation in Canada Annual Reports

Table of Contents

Report Highlights

1. Introduction

2. Transportation and the Economy

3. Government Spending on Transportation

4. Transportation Safety and Security

5. Transportation and the Environment

6. Rail Transportation

7. Road Transportation

8. Marine Transportation

9. Air Transportation

Minister of Transport

List of Tables

List of Figures

Addendum

4 TRANSPORTATION SAFETY AND SECURITY

Canadians' confidence in transportation security in all modes continued to increase. There were fewer fatalities in both the air and road transportation modes, however, there was an increase in fatalities for marine and rail. The number of reported accidents decreased in aviation and marine, and increased for rail.

Transport Canada promotes the safety and security of Canada's transportation system consisting of the air, marine, rail and road modes of transportation, including the transportation of dangerous goods. A safe and secure transportation system aims to protect its citizens from those occurrences which result in the loss of or damage to life, health and property. It also enables the efficient flow of people and goods and protects the environment from pollution that can result from occurrences. It is an essential element for a healthy population, a high quality of life and a prosperous economy.

Policy development, rule-making, monitoring and enforcement, and outreach activities are carried out in support of the safety and security objective. Through its policy development and rule-making efforts for all the modes of transportation, Transport Canada establishes and implements legislation, regulations, standards and policies. Monitoring and enforcement activities include: issuing licences, certificates, registrations and permits, monitoring compliance through audits, inspections and surveillance, and taking appropriate enforcement action in instances of non-compliance. In particular, the department has inspectors who monitor the system to make sure the rules are being followed, and, if required, have the means to enforce the policies and rules. Outreach activities make the users and industry aware of the requirements and involve efforts to promote, educate and increase awareness of safety and security issues.

The safety and security of the transportation system is a shared responsibility among many stakeholders. Transport Canada collaborates with other federal departments and agencies whose programs and services may be affected by transportation activities. For example, with respect to promoting aviation security, this responsibility is shared with the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA), which is responsible for delivering air transport security services in accordance with Transport Canada regulations and standards. Transport Canada works with provincial, territorial and municipal governments particularly concerning the maintenance of the highway system, enforcement of road safety and the co-delivery of the Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) program. Transport Canada also works closely with transportation sector industries, agencies and associations, all of which have a vested interest in the transportation infrastructure, regulatory regime and transportation safety and security. In addition, Transport Canada collaborates with other countries such as the United States, Mexico and other international partners — such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) — to harmonize safety and security standards and to share best practices in safety and security systems.

Canada already has one of the safest and most secure transportation systems in the world and continues to work diligently to further improve the system. One method of measuring the safety and security of the transportation system is through tracking the public's ratings of safety and security for each transportation mode. The data reveal that, in the case of all four transportation modes, more than 90 per cent of those Canadians who have an opinion give either a moderately or a very safe and secure rating. These most recent available ratings (January, 2005), are shown in Table 4-1.

Source: Rethinking Government 2004 - Wave 4 Report, EKOS Research Associates, February 2005

The level of transportation safety can also be measured by the number of occurrences that result in an accident. In 2004, a decrease in the number of accidents was noted in aviation and marine. There was an increase, however, in rail transportation accidents. The number of fatalities dropped in aviation transportation, but increased in marine and rail. The number of road fatalities decreased notably in 2003 (latest data). Moreover, the number of transportation-related fatalities has remained below the previous five-year averages in aviation, rail and road, and the transportation of dangerous goods. With the exception of a fluctuation in 2004 for rail, the safety performance record observed in the three other transportation modes has contributed towards the long-term downward trend in accidents reported over the past ten years. To further improve on the transportation safety performance on the long-term, implementation of the Safety Management Systems (SMS) is one of the key evolving strategic directions undertaken by Transport Canada. The SMS is a formal framework for integrating safety performance into day-to-day operations within the transportation industry. To date, the SMS regulations are being introduced for aviation, implementation of regulations has been well under way in rail, and the marine SMS is evolving towards increased adoption for operators of Canadian domestic vessels. In addition, the modal strategic plans — the Civil Aviation's Flight 2005, the Direction 2006 in Rail Safety, the Marine Safety's Strategic Plan 2003-2010 and the Road Safety Vision 2010 — all report progress in 2004 against the set performance targets for reducing, on the long-term, the number of accidents, fatalities and injuries.

Over the past year, Transport Canada continued to take action to further enhance transportation security in all modes. A key development last year was the announcement of the Government of Canada's National Security Policy. Transportation-related aspects include a six-point plan for marine security; enhancement of aviation security including air cargo; and improving and extending security background check requirements for transportation workers. A summary of other key initiatives is found in Table 4-2.

This chapter reviews developments and initiatives concerning the safety and security of Canada's transportation system during 2004. After a review by mode of the 2004 safety records, transportation security is discussed and the various enhancements undertaken in 2004 are reviewed.

TABLE 4-2: KEY TRANSPORT CANADA SECURITY INITIATIVES IN 2004

Legislative and Regulatory Enhancements

• Public Safety Act
• Regulatory framework for a new airport screening program for non-passengers
• Amendments to security regulations covering flight crew procedures and training
• Marine Transportation Security Regulations

Transportation Security Programs

• Cabin Security Enhancement Contribution Program
• Aviation Transportation Security Clearance Program
• Marine Security Contribution Program
• Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Response Project
• National Critical Infrastructure Assurance Program (NCIAP)

Awareness Campaigns and Industry Training Initiatives

• G8 Secure and Facilitate Travel Initiative
• International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)'s Universal Security Audit Programme
• International Maritime Organization (IMO) International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.

International Initiatives

• G8 Secure and Facilitate Travel Initiative
• International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)'s Universal Security Audit Programme
• International Maritime Organization (IMO) International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.

Transportation Safety

Transportation Security