You can use this page to find information on planned regulatory initiatives that Transport Canada expects to bring forward over the next two years.
On this page
Initiative(s) planned for Canada Gazette, Part I
Regulations Amending the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations (Automatic Emergency Braking Systems)
Enabling acts
Motor Vehicle Safety Act (S.C. 1993, c. 16)
Description
The proposed regulatory changes would mandate that an automatic emergency braking system be fitted on most newly manufactured vehicles intended for use on public roads, ranging from light vehicles (e.g., passenger cars, pickups, minivans, and multi-purpose passenger vehicles) to heavy vehicles (e.g., truck tractors and buses, including school buses). Automatic emergency braking is a safety system which can help to reduce the severity of a collision or avoid it entirely by automatically applying the brakes when there is an immediate risk of hitting an object. Automatic emergency braking can function at high and low speeds and can potentially intervene in an impending collision with another vehicle or a pedestrian.
Potential impacts on Canadians, including businesses
There may be business impacts.
Regulatory cooperation efforts (domestic and international)
Departmental officials are considering ways to align any proposed regulations with those in other countries, where possible. Next steps include exploring an outcome-based approach, which could facilitate harmonization by avoiding Canadian-specific prescriptive requirements which may diverge from requirements in other countries.
Consultations
Transport Canada sought input from interested Canadians on the proposed Regulations through a public consultation period held in late 2020, on the Let's Talk Transportation platform. Transport Canada engaged in further consultations with stakeholders in the spring of 2021.
Transport Canada is currently reviewing the Regulations and will establish a calendar for the changes once the review and analysis are completed.
Departmental contact information
Anthony Jaz
Acting Manager, Standards & Regulations
Multimodal and Road Safety Programs
Transport Canada
Email: Regulationsclerk-ASFB-Commisauxreglements@tc.gc.ca
First included in the Transport Canada's Forward Regulatory Plan: August 2020
Regulations Amending the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems)
Enabling acts
Motor Vehicle Safety Act (S.C. 1993, c. 16)
Description
The proposed regulatory changes would encompass a variety of advanced driver assistance systems mandating that certain systems be fitted on newly manufactured vehicles while providing a set of minimum requirements for others. The individual advanced driver assistance systems are each applicable to a variety of vehicle types; therefore, the proposal would impact newly manufactured heavy, medium, and light vehicles as well as motorcycles. Advanced driver assistance systems encompass several different technologies which can either increase driver situational awareness or take control of steering, braking or throttle inputs. As such, they can have an impact on the safety of vehicle occupants and other road users including vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists.
Potential impacts on Canadians, including businesses
There may be business impacts.
Regulatory cooperation efforts (domestic and international)
Departmental officials are considering ways to align any proposed changes with those in other countries, where possible. The next step is to gather information on international requirements that may be applicable.
Consultations
Transport Canada sought input from interested Canadians on the proposed changes through a public consultation period held in late 2020, on the Let's Talk Transportation platform.
Transport Canada is currently reviewing the regulations and will establish a calendar for the changes once the review and analysis are completed.
Departmental contact information
Anthony Jaz
Acting Manager, Standards & Regulations
Multimodal and Road Safety Programs
Transport Canada
Email: Regulationsclerk-ASFB-Commisauxreglements@tc.gc.ca
First included in the Transport Canada's Forward Regulatory Plan: August 2020
Regulations Amending Certain Regulations Under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (Information Gathering)
Enabling acts
Motor Vehicle Safety Act (S.C. 1993, c. 16)
Strengthening Motor Vehicle Safety for Canadians Act (S.C. 2018, c.2)
Description
The proposed regulatory changes would detail requirements for what records companies would be required to acquire and maintain for prescribed classes of vehicles.
Potential impacts on Canadians, including businesses
There may be business impacts.
Regulatory cooperation efforts (domestic and international)
The proposed changes would improve alignment, where possible, with similar requirements in the United States.
Consultations
Transport Canada sought input from interested Canadians on the proposed Regulations through a public consultation period held in late 2020, on the Let's Talk Transportation platform. Transport Canada intends to engage with those who commented in further informal consultations.
The proposed changes are expected to be published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, in early 2024 with a 75-day comment period.
Departmental contact information
Anthony Jaz
Acting Manager, Standards & Regulations
Multimodal and Road Safety Programs
Transport Canada
Email: Regulationsclerk-ASFB-Commisauxreglements@tc.gc.ca
First included in the Transport Canada's Forward Regulatory Plan: April 2021
Initiative(s) planned for Canada Gazette, Part II
Regulations Amending Certain Regulations Under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (Recall Information)
Enabling acts
Motor Vehicle Safety Act (S.C. 1993, c. 16)
Strengthening Motor Vehicle Safety for Canadians Act (S.C. 2018, c.2)
Description
The proposed regulatory changes would introduce additional requirements for regulated companies to post specified information about safety recalls on their website. It would also require designated vehicle companies (high-volume companies as established in a separate policy document) to have a free web-based service to allow consumers to search for vehicle-specific recall information using their 17-digit vehicle identification number (VIN).
Potential impacts on Canadians, including businesses
There may be business impacts.
Regulatory cooperation efforts (domestic and international)
The proposed changes would improve alignment, where possible, with similar requirements in the United States.
Consultations
Transport Canada sought input from interested Canadians on the proposed changes through a public consultation period held in late 2020, on the Let's Talk Transportation platform. Following the notice, Transport Canada published an additional document in Spring 2021 to engage stakeholders in a pre-regulatory consultation. The department held information sessions to help guide interested parties through the document and hosted additional consultation sessions.
Transport Canada pre-published the proposed changes in the Canada Gazette, Part I, on June 17, 2023 with a 75-day public comment period.
Transport Canada plans to publish the proposed changes in the Canada Gazette, Part II, in mid-2024.
Departmental contact information
Anthony Jaz
Acting Manager, Standards & Regulations
Multimodal and Road Safety Programs
Transport Canada
Email: Regulationsclerk-ASFB-Commisauxreglements@tc.gc.ca
First included in the Transport Canada's Forward Regulatory Plan: October 2018
Regulations Amending the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations (School Buses)
Enabling acts
Motor Vehicle Safety Act (S.C. 1993, c. 16)
Description
The proposed regulatory changes are tied to the recommendations of the Task Force on School Bus Safety established on January 21, 2019, by the federal, provincial, and territorial Council of Ministers Responsible for Transportation and Highway Safety.
School buses are the safest way to transport children to and from school, more so than any other means of transportation. Governed by some 40 federal safety standards, including the requirements for structural safety features, school buses are specifically designed to keep children safe during an accident. Even with this excellent safety record, there is room for improvement. The federal, provincial, and territorial Council of Ministers Responsible for Transportation and Highway Safety requested that the Task Force identify opportunities to further strengthen school bus safety.
In February 2020, the Task Force published its report which included recommendations that all jurisdictions explore the application of the following safety measures based on their assessed needs:
- infraction cameras: to help prevent dangerous incidents caused by passing motorists;
- extended stop arms: to further deter motorists from passing while children are entering or leaving the bus;
- exterior visibility cameras: to better detect and protect children and other vulnerable road users around the outside of the bus; and
- automatic emergency braking: to help reduce the severity of a collision or avoid it entirely. Consideration should also be given to exploring ways to pair this feature with other technologies for increased safety.
The proposed changes would introduce requirements for infraction cameras, if installed, and require extended stop arms and exterior vehicle perimeter visibility systems on all newly manufactured school buses regulated under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act in Canada, while automatic emergency braking would be addressed under a separate regulatory initiative.
Potential impacts on Canadians, including businesses
There may be business impacts.
Regulatory cooperation efforts (domestic and international)
Departmental officials are considering ways to align any proposed regulations with those in other jurisdictions, where possible. The next step is to work with provincial and territorial counterparts, through the Task Force on school bus safety, in Transport Canada's proposal to regulate the above technologies on school buses.
Consultations
Transport Canada sought input from interested Canadians on the proposed changes through a public consultation period held in late 2020, on the Let's Talk Transportation platform.
Transport Canada pre-published the proposed changes in the Canada Gazette, Part I, on July 2, 2022 with a 75-day public comment period.
Transport Canada plans to publish the proposed changes in the Canada Gazette, Part II, in early 2024.
Departmental contact information
Anthony Jaz
Acting Manager, Standards & Regulations
Multimodal and Road Safety Programs
Transport Canada
Email: Regulationsclerk-ASFB-Commisauxreglements@tc.gc.ca
First included in the Transport Canada's Forward Regulatory Plan: August 2020
Regulations Amending the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations (Product Identification Number)
Enabling act
Motor Vehicle Safety Act (S.C. 1993, c. 16)
Description
The proposed regulatory changes would allow the use of a Product identification Number in the place of a Vehicle Identification Number for the prescribed class of restricted-use vehicles.
Potential impacts on Canadians, including businesses
There may be business impacts.
Regulatory cooperation efforts (domestic and international)
The proposed changes would align Canada with other countries that accept the use of Product identification Numbers in the place of Vehicle identification Numbers for off-road vehicles.
Consultations
The proposed changes are exempted from publication (do not need to be published) in the Canada Gazette, Part I.
The proposed changes are expected to be published in the Canada Gazette, Part II, in early 2025.
Departmental contact information
Anthony Jaz
Acting Manager, Standards & Regulations
Multimodal and Road Safety Programs
Transport Canada
Email: Regulationsclerk-ASFB-Commisauxreglements@tc.gc.ca
First included in the Transport Canada's Forward Regulatory Plan: April 2022