Federal, provincial and territorial Transportation and Highway Safety Ministers take action on improving infrastructure and enhancing safety
Press Release
Québec – Today, Canada’s Minister of Transport and Internal Trade, the Honourable Anita Anand, and the Deputy Premier and Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility for Québec, Ms. Geneviève Guilbault, co-chaired the annual meeting of the Council of Ministers Responsible for Transportation and Highway Safety.
Federal, provincial[1], and territorial ministers gathered to discuss the following themes and their implications for the transportation sector:
- Improving competitiveness
- Enhancing transportation safety and security
Competitive, efficient and resilient transportation systems
Ministers recognize that efficient, resilient, and competitive transportation systems can be supported by well-developed economic corridors. These systems are crucial to directly supporting a strong economy, facilitating trade diversification, and ensuring all Canadians have access to affordable goods.
They also discussed the importance of flexible, long-term strategic investments in all forms of transportation infrastructure to improve the sector’s efficiency, resilience, and overall performance. At the meeting, the provincial and territorial ministers stressed the importance for the federal government to enhance support of their priorities in terms of transport infrastructure, including road infrastructure. For her part, the federal minister acknowledged the need for additional investments in this area, and undertook to report the provinces’ and territories’ requests to her Cabinet colleagues.
Mutual recognition initiative in the trucking sector
Under the Internal Trade Mutual Recognition Trucking Pilot Initiative, the federal, provincial and territorial governments have committed to explore ways to reduce regulatory barriers and facilitate the smoother movement of goods. This will strengthen the Canadian economy and allow the private sector to more easily do business in Canada.
Canada-United States relations
Ministers discussed the importance of enhancing Canadian global competitiveness to build stronger transportation supply chains. Ministers reaffirmed the importance of the Canada-United States transportation relationship in driving trade and economic prosperity across North America. They discussed their priorities with the United States, including strengthening supply chains and enhancing security for cross border transportation and trade. Ministers emphasized the ongoing need for federal, provincial, and territorial collaboration to advance their shared goals, and to engage with their United States transportation counterparts and industry stakeholders.
Extreme weather working group
Ministers raised concerns about the impact of extreme weather events on transportation infrastructure, and the importance of taking action to prepare for the impacts of climate change. Today, they agreed to work collaboratively to exchange information on tools and best practices for responding effectively to transport system disruptions resulting from extreme weather events.
Cyber security and artificial intelligence (AI)
Ministers recognize the challenges and opportunities provided by AI and agreed to enhance collaboration across governments to improve the cyber security of Canada’s transportation infrastructure as technologies develop.
Safety and security improvements
Seatbelts on school buses
Under Report Part I of the Task force on School Bus Safety (February 2020), pilot projects were undertaken to assess the viability of seatbelts on school buses. Today, ministers were presented the findings from these pilot projects. They agreed to publish Strengthening School Bus Safety in Canada – Part II: Key Findings from the Seat Belt Pilot Projects and the accompanying Guidelines for the Use of Seat Belts on School Buses. These findings will provide guidance to support the proper use of seatbelts on equipped school buses. Provincial and territorial ministers reiterated their requests for any new federal school bus safety regulations to be supported by investments that are crucial for their implementation.
Stolen vehicles
Through collaborative efforts, there has been a reduction in auto theft in Canada. The federal, provincial, and territorial governments remain committed to strengthening their partnership, maintaining this momentum, and effectively continuing to tackle the issue.
Commercial vehicles safety certificates
Last year, ministers asked the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA) to analyze challenges within the current model for issuing Safety Fitness Certificates for Commercial Motor Carriers and identify opportunities to strengthen the system.
Today, the CCMTA presented its findings and recommendations to address carriers with problematic safety records, particularly those that continue to operate from one province or territory to another, despite being prohibited from doing so by another province or territory. CCMTA plans to improve data exchange between governments and will complete reviews of key sections of the National Safety Code.
National Indigenous Organizations
Ministers are committed to continuing the dialogue with Indigenous Peoples. Prior to their annual meeting, ministers met with representatives from National Indigenous Organizations to discuss key transportation issues affecting Indigenous communities. They discussed:
- missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls,
- transportation accessibility, and
- Indigenous economic participation in the transportation sector.
Quotes
“By strengthening our supply chains and enhancing Canada’s connectivity, we’re ensuring the more seamless movement of goods and people. This requires constant collaboration with all provinces, territories and Indigenous communities. Together, we are building a stronger transportation system that leaves no one behind and fully contributes to every community’s economic growth.”
– The Honourable Anita Anand
Minister of Transport and Internal Trade
“As co-chair, I was delighted to welcome the Council of Ministers Responsible for Transportation and Highway Safety to magnificent Québec City. This meeting consolidated the close collaboration between provincial, territorial and federal governments in strengthening competitive and safe transportation networks. With this in mind, my provincial and territorial colleagues and I were able to share our concerns with the federal government with regard to transportation infrastructure funding, notably roads, and regulatory obstacles to the completion of projects that will strengthen the country’s economic resilience.”
– Ms. Geneviève Guilbault
Deputy Premier and Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility for Québec
Contacts
Laura Scaffidi
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Anita Anand,
Minister of Transport and Internal Trade, Ottawa
Laura.Scaffidi@tc.gc.ca
Claude Deraiche
Strategic Advisor
Office of the Deputy Premier
and Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility
Tel.: 581 992-3070
Claude.Deraiche@transports.gouv.qc.ca
Media Relations
Transport Canada, Ottawa
Media@tc.gc.ca
613-993-0055
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