LOCATION: National
ISSUE/SOURCE: Transportation Safety Board Annual Assessment of Safety Recommendations
DATE: June 2025
SUGGESTED RESPONSES
- Transport Canada (TC) is committed to the continual improvement of transportation system safety and takes recommendations from the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) very seriously.
- The Board performed an assessment of responses to 66 safety recommendations in the air, marine and rail transportation sectors.
- I am pleased to note that Transportation Safety Board closed nine (9) recommendations during the 2024-25 period.
- Significant progress has been made in recent years in reducing the number of active TSB recommendations.
- In addition, TC has updated its processes to enable more comprehensive responses to the TSB and increased its communication with the TSB to develop a better understanding of residual risks associated with outstanding recommendations.
IF PRESSED
- Transport Canada takes all TSB recommendations seriously and remains committed to addressing them to strengthen safety in Canada.
- There are many areas where TC is making excellent progress toward addressing the active safety investigations that the TSB has addressed to TC, including developing updated approach ban regulations in the aviation sector and working to amend and update the Marine Personnel Regulations in the marine sector.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
- On June 4, 2025, the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) published its annual assessment of safety recommendations, highlighting progress and calling for continued action.
- The TSB’s report assessment covered 66 outstanding recommendations in the air, marine and rail transportation sectors, highlighting ongoing efforts to address safety deficiencies and drive change in the transportation system.
Aviation Sector
The Board performed reassessments on the responses to 28 aviation safety recommendations in 2024-25 and noted that one was closed with a fully satisfactory rating. This latter recommendation (A17-02) was related to implementing substance abuse programs.
- The news release notes that the Board is pleased with Transport Canada’s efforts to reduce the risk of impairment of persons while engaged in safety critical functions. It does not discuss any other aviation safety recommendations, and it does not identify any specific areas where more work is required.
- There are many areas where we are making excellent progress toward addressing the 22 currently active aviation safety investigations that the TSB has addressed to TC. For example, TC is working hard to develop updated approach ban regulations (recommendations A20-01 and A20-02) that will help to reduce the risk of runway overruns (a TSB Watchlist item).
- There is still much work to do, and some TSB recommendations will require large scale systemic changes. For example, requiring Safety Management Systems for all commercial operators (recommendation A16-12) is a significant undertaking and will take some time.
Marine Sector
The Board assessed the progress of 28 marine transportation safety recommendations in 2024–25 and closed 7 recommendations in the marine mode during. Five of these recommendations were directed at Transport Canada.
- The Board issued recommendations M17-01 and M17-02 calling for Transport Canada to ensure the adoption of practical risk mitigation strategies and comprehensive guidelines to improve passenger vessel safety measures following its investigation M15P0347 into the capsizing of the passenger vessel Leviathan II. In July 2024, the two recommendations were closed as Fully Satisfactory as the Board believes that Transport Canada’s actions, namely the publication of the new Marine Safety Management System Regulations (MSMSR) in the Canada Gazette, Part II, that require vessels to develop and implement a safety management system, in conjunction with the requirements of the Navigation Safety Regulations, 2020, will substantially mitigate the underlying risks.
- These changes implemented by Transport Canada also allowed the Board to close its Recommendation M04-01 as Fully Satisfactory, which was issued following the investigation M02C0030 into the striking and loss of life involving the amphibious passenger vehicle Lady Duck. The recommendation called for steps to ensure that small passenger vessel enterprises have a safety management system. The Board determined that, with the introduction of the new MSMSR, Transport Canada has taken steps to meet this requirement.
Rail Sector
- During the latest TSB reassessment of active rail recommendations, Transport Canada (TC) responded to eight recommendations. Of these, the TSB closed Recommendation R20-01 (relating to uncontrolled movements), rating the response as Fully Satisfactory. This closure reflects the effectiveness of TC’s safety measures in strengthening defences against uncontrolled movements during switching operations conducted without air. These measures have contributed to a significant reduction in the overall number of uncontrolled movements in this category.
- Current active rail recommendations emphasize the adoption of advanced technologies such as Enhanced Train Control systems and Automatic Parking Brakes to bolster rail safety. Additionally, the TSB advocates for improved training and experience development for railway employees to ensure they can perform their duties safely and effectively.