Legal Services

Mandate:

As the in-house corporate counsel office for Transport Canada (and Infrastructure Canada), Transport and Infrastructure Legal Services (TILS) is responsible for the provision or coordination of all legal services to Transport Canada. It:

  • provides legal advice;
  • conducts litigation or provides litigation support; and
  • helps draft legislation, regulations, and other legal instruments.

Profile:

Alain Langlois

Alain Langlois

Departmental Senior General Counsel

Bio

Alain Langlois - Departmental Senior General Counsel

Alain Langlois

Alain Langlois was appointed Senior General Counsel and Executive Director of Transport and Infrastructure Legal Services (TILS) in August 2018. He has practiced transportation law for over 20 years.

Alain joined TILS in 2005. From 2014 to 2018, he was General Counsel and Deputy Executive Director, then Senior General Counsel and Executive Director. From 2009 to 2014, he was senior counsel responsible for surface transportation-related issues, including the Detroit River International Crossing project. From 2007 to 2009, he was the senior counsel responsible for all transportation modes.

Alain practiced law at the Canadian Transportation Agency from 1998 to 2005. He has also practiced municipal law in Montréal. Alain is a member of the Quebec Bar and holds an LL.L. from the University of Ottawa and a certificate in Political Science from l’Université Laval.

Senior General Counsel and Executive Director:  Alain Langlois

General Counsel and Deputy Executive Director: Cathia Bérube

Number of Employees: 45 Department of Justice counsel, 21 TC employees, including 7 paralegals.

Directorates:

  • Aviation Law Team
  • Surface and Enforcement Law Team
  • Marine Law Team
  • Corporate Commercial Law Team
  • Indigenous and Environmental Law Team
  • Paralegal Team

Overview:

Legal Services has the following key responsibilities:

  • Providing legal advisory services, including litigation support and the provision of advice on the development, interpretation and enforcement of legislation and regulations.
  • Ensuring the effective coordination of Justice services to Transport Canada.
  • Serving as a centre of legal expertise in statutory and regulatory regimes governing federally regulated transportation, focusing on the following areas:
    • Aviation
    • Navigation and Shipping
    • Railways
    • Interprovincial Bridges and tunnels
    • Motor Vehicles
    • Transportation of Dangerous Goods
    • Transportation Infrastructure (e.g., Airports, Ports, Federal Bridges)
  • Centre of expertise in other legal areas of particular importance to Transport Canada’s mandates:
    • Aboriginal Law
    • Commercial Law/Trade Law
    • Corporate Governance Law (including governance of Crown corporations, Airport Authorities and Port Authorities in the portfolios of the Minister of Transport)
    • Environmental Law
    • Property Law
    • Regulatory Negligence Law
    • Constitutional Law (division of powers)
  • Provides advice on legal issues relating to Government operations (e.g., ATIP, Financial Administration Act, Ministerial and Governor in Council appointment authorities, Human Resources).