Road safety initiatives planned for April 2019 - April 2021

This plan provides information on planned and potential regulatory initiatives that Transport Canada expects to bring forward over the next two years, as published in the Canada Gazette (CG). It also identifies public consultation opportunities and a departmental contact point for each regulatory initiative.

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CG II - Regulations amending certain regulations made under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (National safety mark and importation)

Enabling act

Motor Vehicle Safety Act (1993, C. 16)

Description

Update the importation of vehicles requirements and allowances by clarifying the importation requirements for vehicles imported under section 11, allowing the importation of vehicles from Mexico and updating the requirements for the importation of vehicles sold at the retail level in the United States and adding a minimum speed threshold for vehicles.

Potential impacts on Canadians, including businesses

There is no anticipated change in administrative costs to business. The proposed amendment would clarify the requirements for vehicles and equipment imported temporarily for a prescribed purpose, and harmonize parts of the Regulations with the amended Act, such as sections 11 and 12 of the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations (MVSR) and the provisions related to the national safety mark for tires. Allowing used vehicle imports from Mexico may make a greater number of used motor vehicles available to Canadians. The amended MVSR would require that these vehicles satisfy specific Canadian safety requirements. Transport Canada does not anticipate that the proposal would have a significant impact on the market for motor vehicles in Canada.

Regulatory cooperation efforts (domestic and international)

The proposed amendment would reduce trade barriers by amending the requirements related to temporary importation, vehicles imported from Mexico, and vehicles imported from the United States and Mexico for parts. This proposal is aligned with the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) objectives to eliminate trade barriers and facilitate the cross border movement of goods and services between Canada, the United States and Mexico, and delivers on specific commitments to remove barriers to the importation of used motor vehicles from Mexico.

Consultations

The proposed amendments were pre-published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, on May 19th, 2018, for a 75‑day comment period.

The target date for publication of the final amendments in the Canada Gazette, Part II, is late 2019.

Departmental contact information

Dan Davis
Chief, Standards and Regulations
Multimodal and Road Safety Programs
Transport Canada
Telephone: 613-998-1956
Email: Regulationsclerk-ASFB-Commisauxreglements@tc.gc.ca

First included in the Transport Canada's Forward Regulatory Plan: April 2014

CG I - Regulations made under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (Administrative monetary penalties)

Enabling acts

Motor Vehicle Safety Act (1993, C. 16)

Strengthening Motor Vehicle Safety for Canadians Act (Bill S-2)

Description

This regulatory initiative was identified by Transport Canada in its Transportation Sector Regulatory Review Roadmap. The initiative is intended to address stakeholder comments concerning current standards that prescribe specific technologies and vehicle requirements that could impede motor vehicle innovations. These regulatory amendments support stakeholders' recommendations to establish a modern and flexible regulatory framework for emerging motor vehicle technologies.

Bill S-2 amended the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (MVSA) requirements by adding new provisions and authorities for issuing administrative monetary penalties. The proposed regulations would introduce the requirements for the new administrative monetary penalty program that is expected to be more efficient and effective than the current legislative process.

Potential impacts on Canadians, including businesses

These new requirements are not expected to have any significant business impact. These new regulations will only apply to companies that fail to follow the requirements of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act and the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations. Companies not following the requirements of the Act or Regulations could be subject to an administrative monetary penalty, which would be less onerous on the Company and the Government compared to the current legislative process.

Regulatory cooperation efforts (domestic and international)

The proposed amendment would improve alignment with a similar the United States administrative monetary penalty option.

Consultations

Transport Canada will seek input from interested Canadians on the proposed regulations through a reasonable public consultation period expected to be held in mid-2019 through the Let's Talk Transportation platform.

It is anticipated that there will be a formal consultation process of 75-days following pre-publication in Canada Gazette, Part I, expected to take place in 2020.

Departmental contact information

Dan Davis
Chief, Standards and Regulations
Multimodal and Road Safety Programs
Transport Canada
Telephone: 613-998-1956
Email: Regulationsclerk-ASFB-Commisauxreglements@tc.gc.ca

First included in the Transport Canada's Forward Regulatory Plan: October 2018

CG I - Regulations amending certain regulations under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (Exemptions)

Enabling acts

Motor Vehicle Safety Act (1993, C. 16)

Strengthening Motor Vehicle Safety for Canadians Act (Bill S-2)

Description

This regulatory initiative was identified by Transport Canada in its Transportation Sector Regulatory Review Roadmap. This regulatory amendment process will address the need for more flexibility concerning the importation of automated and connected technologies. Stakeholders importing foreign automated and connected technologies and vehicles for the purposes of exhibition, demonstration, evaluation or testing are required to export or destroy imports after a period of one year. This requirement is cost prohibitive; and doesn't always allow sufficient time to evaluate the technology.

Bill S-2 amended the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (MVSA) exemption requirements by removing the vehicle production quantity limitations and financial hardship wording, and added flexibility to the exemption process. The proposed amendment to the regulations will align the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations (MVSR) and be more flexible with the vehicle exemption process.

Potential impacts on Canadians, including businesses

No significant business impacts are expected.

Regulatory cooperation efforts (domestic and international)

While this regulatory initiative is not part of a formal regulatory cooperation agreement, the regulatory proposal will need to respect both the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).

Consultations

Transport Canada will seek input from interested Canadians on the proposed regulations through a reasonable public consultation period expected to be held in mid-2019 through the Let's Talk Transportation platform.

It is anticipated that there will be a formal consultation process of 75-days following pre-publication in the Canada Gazette, Part I, expected to take place in 2020.

Departmental contact information

Dan Davis
Chief, Standards and Regulations
Multimodal and Road Safety Programs
Transport Canada
Telephone: 613-998-1956
Email: Regulationsclerk-ASFB-Commisauxreglements@tc.gc.ca

First included in the Transport Canada's Forward Regulatory Plan: October 2018

CG I - Quiet Vehicles Regulations

Enabling act

Motor Vehicle Safety Act (1993, C. 16)

Description

The proposed regulations would require electric and electric hybrid vehicles to implement a noise system to alert visually impaired persons that they are operating nearby.

Potential impacts on Canadians, including businesses

There are no expected business impacts.

Regulatory cooperation efforts (domestic and international)

It was proposed that the Canadian safety regulations may be amended to introduce Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard CMVSS 141, Minimum Noise Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles, to align with requirements in Europe and the United States Manufacturers would be given the choice of complying with requirements of either the United States or United Nations regulation for the vehicles specified in the scope of CMVSS 141.

Further work on the amendment has been temporarily paused while awaiting the work of the United Nations towards the development of a possible Global Technical Requirement (GTR) concerning quiet vehicles. Its latest development meeting took place at the end of May 2018. The intent of this meeting was to review the potential for initiating work on the GTR. To date, a decision has not been made by the UN committee to reinitiate the quiet vehicles working group. This UN work has resulted in a delay in the progress of the amendment.

Consultations

Transport Canada sought input from interested Canadians on the proposed regulations through a public consultation period held in early 2018 through the Let's Talk Transportation platform.

It is anticipated that there will be a formal consultation process of 75-days following pre-publication in the Canada Gazette, Part I, expected to take place in early 2020.

Departmental contact information

Dan Davis
Chief, Standards and Regulations
Multimodal and Road Safety Programs
Transport Canada
Telephone: 613-998-1956
Email: Regulationsclerk-ASFB-Commisauxreglements@tc.gc.ca

First included in the Transport Canada's Forward Regulatory Plan: April 2018

CG I - Regulations amending certain regulations under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act and regulations made under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (VIN lookup tool and information gathering)

Enabling acts

Motor Vehicle Safety Act (1993, C. 16)

Strengthening Motor Vehicle Safety for Canadians Act (Bill S-2)

Description

The proposed amendments to the regulations will introduce requirements for a Notice of Defect web-based look-up tool centered on the vehicle identification number (VIN) information. The proposed regulations 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 amendment would improve alignment, where possible, with similar United States requirements.

Consultations

Transport Canada sought input from interested Canadians on the proposed regulations through a public consultation period held in early 2018 through the Let's Talk Transportation platform.

It is anticipated that there will be a 75-day comment period following pre-publication in Canada Gazette, Part I, in 2020.

Departmental contact information

Dan Davis
Chief, Standards and Regulations
Multimodal and Road Safety Programs
Transport Canada
Telephone: 613-998-1956
Email: Regulationsclerk-ASFB-Commisauxreglements@tc.gc.ca

First included in the Transport Canada's Forward Regulatory Plan: October 2018

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