Programs Group

The Programs Group is responsible for managing programs and activities related to air, marine and surface infrastructure, the environment, Indigenous relations, innovations and waterways, including:

  • Overseeing the delivery of Grants & Contributions programs (including the Centre of Expertise for Grants and Contributions); 

  • Overseeing the operations of Transport Canada (TC)-owned local/regional airports and local ports and three interprovincial ferry services in Eastern Canada; managing related capital assets and real property; 

  • Managing TC’s administrative relationships with 21 National Airports System Airport Authorities, 17 Canada Port Authorities and the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation; 

  • Overseeing management of TC’s contaminated sites, including assessment and remediation; 

  • Administering the Navigation Protection Program and addressing Vessels of Concern

  • Providing a Centre of Expertise for Indigenous Reconciliation; 

  • Managing TC’s Innovation Centre, including the Motor Vehicle Test Centre;  

  • Leading TC participation in Impact Assessments of major projects (e.g. those for port development, resource extraction and movement of energy products); and 

  • Managing the delivery of large, complex transportation projects. 

Stephanie Hébert

Stephanie Hébert

Assistant Deputy Minister, Programs

  Bio

Stephanie Hébert - Assistant Deputy Minister, Programs Group

Stephanie Hébert

On July 5, 2021, Stephanie Hébert was appointed Assistant Deputy Minister, Programs Group, at Transport Canada in Ottawa.

Before this, Stephanie held the position of Assistant Deputy Minister, Program Operations Branch, also in Ottawa.

Stephanie has worked in the public service for over 20 years, during which time, she has gained broad experience through a number of different executive-level positions, including at Service Canada - Québec Region, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, and Canadian Heritage. Notably, she has overseen communications and stakeholder relations, federal–provincial relations, service transformation, Parliamentary and Cabinet affairs, ‎and program and service delivery.

Stephanie has a Bachelor of Arts degree (with highest honours) from Carleton University and a Master's degree in Professional Communication from Royal Roads University. She also holds certificates in Public Sector Leadership and Governance, Public Relations, and Public Sector and Not-for-profit Marketing.

Assistant Deputy Minister: Stephanie Hébert

Number of employees: 418

Directorates:

  • Air, Marine and Environmental Programs
  • Indigenous Relations and Navigation Protection Program;
  • Innovation Centre

  • Major Projects 

  • Transportation Infrastructure Programs  

Overview: 

Grants and Contributions:  

TC oversees and delivers over 50 grant and contribution programs. These programs represent an annual budget of $2.5 billion (B) in 2023-24 and an overall 5-year program budget of over $5.4B, starting from 2023-24.  

The outcomes and objectives of these programs are diverse and fund a wide range of recipients, including:  

Supporting Canadian Airports, Ports, Railways, Transportation Facilities, and Roads:  

  • Supply Chains and Trade: Keeping supply chains resilient and fluid, the National Trade Corridors Fund ($4.7B) funds feasibility studies, digital projects, and major capital projects that relieve supply chain congestion, prevent bottlenecks, and/or facilitate the movement of goods to internal and external markets.  

  • Safety Infrastructure: TC funds smaller scale infrastructure and awareness projects in the rail, road, and marine modes (e.g., Rail Safety Improvement Program and the Boating Safety Contribution Program).   

  • Air Sector Programming: Significant new programming was developed to support the large airports (passenger volumes over 525,000) at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Funding was also increased for key programs that support the critical safety or mobile equipment for smaller airports across the country (scheduled passengers between 1,000 and 525,000).  

  • Legacy Programs and Assets: Funding programs that support the operation and maintenance of key transportation assets or legacy files and initiatives (e.g., Victoria Bridge, Outaouais Road Agreement, Gateways and Boarder Crossing Fund). 

Supporting Research with Partners:

  • Research: Funding programs that support research on emerging technologies such as remotely piloted aircrafts (drones), climate change resilience in infrastructure, and best practices in research of safe and sustainable shipping. 

Supporting the Environmental Goals of the Government of Canada: 

  • Emissions Reductions: Investing in initiatives to prevent or mitigate the effects of climate change on/by Canada’s transportation system (e.g. incentives to support the purchase of ZEV cars (iZEV) and Heavy Trucks (iMHZEV), Clean Transportation System Research to advance clean technology in the marine, rail and aviation modes, and a program to help provinces and territories advance regulations to support Heavy Duty ZEV trucking.   

  • Oceans Protection: Deliver programs to preserve and restore marine ecosystems vulnerable to marine shipping and development, protect endangered marine mammals, and build infrastructure in Northern communities that protects the marine environment and improves the safety or efficiency of resupply in the North.  

Supporting Indigenous Capacity Building:  

  • Funding programs to support Indigenous participation in TC’s programs and policies, in particular in the marine and rail domains.

Airports, Ports, and Ferry Services 

  • Operation of 18 local, regional and remote airports and 33 local port facilities (including the collection of service fees where applicable) and the management of the Ferry Services Contribution Program. 

  • Ongoing monitoring of asset conditions, identification and prioritization of capital investments, and planning and execution of funded projects for 18 local/regional and remote airports, 33 local port facilities, 6 ferry terminals, and 3 ferry vessels. 

Real Property Management 

  • Management of 700 plus real property holdings in accordance with relevant Treasury Board policies and directives and departmental policies and guidance, including the active management of leases and licenses and the divesture/disposal of surplus capital assets and property. 

Impact Assessment of Major Projects 

  • TC plays a key role in the review of major resource and infrastructure projects subject to the Impact Assessment Act (IAA), the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 (CEAA 2012), and northern regimes. 

Indigenous Relations  

  • Provide leadership in overseeing Indigenous relations and engagement to support legislative/regulatory, policy and program development and delivery as well as training and awareness, enabling TC to advance on the Government’s commitment to reconciliation.

  • In addition to providing Indigenous engagement advice and leading on the relationship with Northern and Indigenous Organizations, Indigenous Relations is the Centre of Expertise to help and guide TC’s implication with:  

    • The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act; 

    • Legal Duty to Consult (s.35 of the Constitution Act, 1982); and  

    • Modern Treaty obligations 

Navigation Protection

  • Ensure Canadian waterways and coasts are protected from safety and environmental hazards by administering the Navigation Protection Program and addressing Vessels of Concern. This includes the development and oversight of regulations under the Canadian Navigable Waters Act and the Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act. 

Innovation 

  • The Innovation Centre conducts multi-modal testing, research and development on advanced transportation technologies (i.e. automated vehicles, unmanned ships, drones, hydrogen locomotives, marine mammal detection technologies) to support TC’s development of regulations, policies, programs, operations – in order to ensure new innovations can be adopted in a safe and timely manner.  
  • Manages the department’s Motor Vehicle Test Centre, where TC conducts research and testing to advance occupant protection in cars, and develop new technologies to improve the safety of vulnerable road users.  

Major Projects 

Lac-Mégantic Rail Bypass 

  • Further to the tragic rail accident that occurred in 2013, the federal and provincial governments agreed in 2018 to fund the construction of a 12.5 kilometers rail bypass around the Lac-Mégantic downtown core and dismantle the existing rail corridor. 

  • On December 20, 2022, the Prime Minister of Canada and the Premier of Quebec agreed that the two governments will increase their planned funding for the construction of the Lac-Mégantic rail bypass, in the same ratios as initially announced in 2018. 

  • Budget 2023 reiterated that the completion of the Lac-Mégantic rail bypass project remains a priority for the federal government. 

Portneuf wharf demolition and seabed rehabilitation 

  • The Portneuf wharf infrastructure is in an advanced state of deterioration and requires demolition for safety reasons. Tendering of the project is planned for Fall 2024.  Contamination has leached from the creosote treated wood of the wharf structure into the wharf fill and also into the surrounding sediments in the water, and requires remediation. The project is funded by the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan (FCSAP) (85 % FCSAP, 15% TC).  As part of this project, the federal government has a legal obligation to consult with 3 implicated First Nations. The funding will enable the First Nations to assess the potential impacts of the demolition of the Portneuf wharf and the rehabilitation of the seabed on the rights, activities and interests of the Nations, as well as support TC's consultation efforts. 

Hudson Bay Rail - Port of Churchill 

  • TC undertook a analysis of the viability of a trade corridor to the Port of Churchill using the existing rail line. Based on this analysis, TC will support PrairiesCan and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs on the development of potential next steps given the role that the Hudson Bay Railway and Port of Churchill play in ensuring access to essential services and supporting community connectivity.