Organization's Role in Public Safety

• To ensure that Canadians have the best transportation system by developing and administering policies, regulations and programs for a safe, efficient and environmentally friendly transportation system; contributing to Canada's economic growth and social development; and, protecting the physical environment.
• To develop and manage programs and strategies, including divestiture and post divestiture stewardship, which best contribute to a safe, effective and efficient transportation system, based on sustainable development principles.
• To offer advice on policy options based on efficiency, competitiveness, safety and security, environmental sustainability.

Key Public Safety Activities

1. Safety and Security
• Responsible for the development of regulations and national standards, as well as for the implementation of monitoring, testing, inspections, research and development and subsidy programs, which contribute to safety and security in the aviation, marine, rail and road modes of transport.
• Develops and enforces regulations, and standards under federal jurisdiction to protect public safety in the transportation of dangerous goods and to prevent unlawful interference in the aviation, marine and railway modes of transport.
• Ensures that the department is prepared to respond to transportation and transportation-related emergencies.
2. New Safety Culture
• Collaborating with industry and other interested parties in the development of systems and programs to encourage the adoption and reinforcement of safe practices.
• Encouraging alternatives to regulations and, where regulations are required, developing regulations that focus on the safety objective to be achieved rather than on the process by which it is to be achieved.
• Developing common measures of safety performance.
3. Systematic Approach to Risk Management
• Engaging the public and other stakeholders in an ongoing dialogue about what constitutes an acceptable level of risk.
• Enhancing our analytical tools to measure results, identify hazards, identify trends, and assess levels of risk.
• Adapting our safety programs and resources to respond appropriately.