Safety and Security Group

Mandate:

The Safety and Security (S&S) Group is responsible for enhancing the safety and security of the aviation, marine, rail, and road modes of transport, as well as the transportation of dangerous goods in Canada. In doing so, the group adopts international best practices and supports innovation as well as economic competitiveness.

As a world-class transportation regulator and service provider, S&S:

Develops proposed legislation, regulations, policies and national standards for each mode of transportation;
Implements monitoring, testing, inspections and enforcement programs;
Oversees the transportation of dangerous goods by rail, truck, air and marine; and
Administers the delivery of aircraft services to the Government of Canada.

Profile:

Lisa Setlakwe

Assistant Deputy Minister, Safety and Security

Bio

Assistant Deputy Minister: Lisa Setlakwe

Associate Assistant Deputy Minister: Nicholas Robinson

Number of Employees: 3,630 employees (2,139 in the NCR, and 1,491 in the regions)

Directorates:

Aircraft Services;
Aviation Security;
Civil Aviation;
Intermodal Surface, Security and Emergency Preparedness;
Marine Safety and Security;
Multi-Modal and Road Safety Programs;
National Enforcement Program
Oceans Protection Plan (OPP) Engagement and Policy Development
Rail Safety;
Transportation of Dangerous Goods; and
COVID Recovery.

Overview:

Aviation Safety and Security

Ensuring the safety and security of air travellers and the aviation system continues to be the priority of Transport Canada (TC). This responsibility is shared with other federal organizations, law enforcement agencies, industry, international organizations, and other countries. Responsibilities under the Aeronautics Act include: (1) developing policies, regulations and standards under the Canadian Aviation Regulations and the Canadian Aviation Security Regulations; (2) contributing to and implementing aviation safety and security standards developed by the International Civil Aviation Organization; and (3) conducting oversight activities and providing services to the aviation industry.

The following are TC Civil Aviation’s core safety program principles:

Strengthening technical excellence to increase safety through a risk-based approach that reduces accidents and incidents, while increasing public confidence.
Conducting oversight activities and providing services to the aviation industry (e.g., certification of aeronautical products, licensing of aviation personnel, issuing medical certificates, certification of operators);
Enhancing safety measures by conducting policy, research and regulatory development;
Fostering strong leadership on the international stage and collaborating with aviation authorities;
Supporting innovation in aerospace technologies that enhance safety, productivity, accessibility, and sustainability;
Advancing the economic competitiveness and viability of the Canadian aviation sector in Canada and internationally; and
Promoting an environmentally sustainable air transportation system.

On the security side, Canada’s aviation security system is robust, resilient and built on the principles of layered security and risk-based approaches. The global threat and risk environment is constantly evolving. COVID-19 has reinforced the need to move to an all-threats risk model with public health and biosecurity risks and their impact on the aviation industry as well as addressing new threats such as state actor influences (e.g., downing of the Ukraine Airlines Flight PS752).

With the lifting of the COVID-19 measures in 2022, Aviation Security has refocused efforts on air sector recovery by identifying challenges and opportunities to increase Canada’s economic competitiveness while simultaneously enhancing the overall security of the Canadian global aviation system. Several key areas have been identified which include:

Continue to modernize the air travel journey by moving from a manual, paper-based traveller identity verification and validation process to an integrated, digital system;
Create a new Canadian Trusted Traveller Membership Program;
TC certification and oversight of new aviation security screening technologies; and
Adjust the airport designation framework to increase regional access to security screening services.

Other initiatives are being pursued to strengthen Canada’s supply chain through innovative screening approaches and enhancing existing aviation security cargo programs to meet international and U.S. requirements and respond to the Minister of Transport’s Mandate Letter commitment to work to reduce and prevent supply chain bottlenecks in Canada’s transportation networks.

Aviation Security is also responsible for the Safer Skies Initiative, which aims to improve the assessment and mitigation of the risks that foreign conflict zones pose to civil aviation to make the skies safer. This is achieved domestically through TC’s Conflict Zone Information Office (CZIO), which builds a more robust system of information monitoring, analysis and sharing so that passengers travelling with Canadian air operators are not flying over areas that might pose a risk.

Aircraft Services

The Aircraft Services Directorate (ASD) is responsible for the provision of aviation services in support of TC operations as well as those of other federal departments and agencies.

With 52 aircraft (24 owned by TC) and operating on 15 bases across Canada, ASD supports TC and other government departments by:

Providing aircraft operations, flight and simulator training services to TC and Transportation Safety Board inspectors, TC and Royal Canadian Air Force pilots, and maintenance technicians;
Conducting surveillance operations under the National Aerial Surveillance Program to search for ship-source pollution, participate in security patrols, participate in search-and-rescue operations, monitor habitats of endangered wildlife, and report ice conditions;
Providing services for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) aircraft; and
Providing maintenance, engineering support and fleet management to the Department of National Defence (DND) administrative and utility flight service.

Marine Safety and Security

TC is responsible for maintaining marine safety and working to protect life, health, property and the marine environment. This includes developing, implementing, and managing the regulations and operational policies related to a viable Domestic Vessel Regulatory Oversight program. Moreover, we manage programs, guidelines and standards for safe ships, navigation, and environmentally-responsible marine operations. Furthermore, the Department ensures the protection of Canada's marine transportation system against unlawful interference.

The Marine Transportation Security Act provides the framework for the security of the marine transportation system in Canada, and gives the tools to help ensure the security of Canada’s marine transport industry by providing the authority to establish measures and regulations. The Canada Shipping Act, 2001 is the principal legislation governing safety of marine transportation and recreational boating, as well as protection of the marine environment. Other important marine legislation includes: the Oceans Act, the Pilotage Act, the Canada Marine Act, the Marine Liability Act, the Marine Transportation Security Act, the Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act, the Navigation Protection Act, and the Coasting Trade Act.

The Oceans Protection Plan (OPP) is the largest investment the Government of Canada has ever made to protect our coasts and waterways. It was launched in 2016 as a $1.5B government initiative to create a world-leading marine safety system, protect and restore marine ecosystems, create stronger Indigenous partnerships and engage coastal communities and make decisions based on scientific evidence, and renewed in July 2022, with an additional $2B investment.

Motor Vehicle Safety

Ensuring the safety and security of all road users continues to be a TC priority. In Canada, federal and provincial/territorial governments share responsibility for motor vehicle safety. Under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act, TC establishes Canada’s Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations, which apply to motor vehicles, child restraint systems, and tires. All vehicles, vehicle equipment and tires either manufactured in or imported to Canada must comply with these safety regulations and their associated Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (e.g. brake systems, electronic stability control, lighting, tires, wheels). TC works with other jurisdictions to keep these standards up to date, and performs tests to ensure compliance. Should a safety defect be suspected, TC investigates and supports corrective action by the manufacturer.

Under the Motor Vehicle Transport Act, TC is also responsible for certain operational matters, such as regulations for hours of service, relating to commercial motor vehicles (transit buses, motor coaches, heavy trucks) that cross provincial/territorial and international boundaries. Provinces/territories are responsible for the enforcement of safety on Canada’s roads and highways, driver and vehicle licensing, and rules of the road (e.g. speed limits), as well as enforcement of federal motor carrier operational regulations set out in the Motor Vehicle Transport Act. TC continues to work with other jurisdictions, industry associations and international counterparts to advance a cohesive national approach to motor vehicle safety and the safety of all road users.

Rail Safety and Security

TC is responsible for advancing the safety and security of the Canadian rail transportation system through regulatory development, outreach and oversight. TC’s Rail Safety and Security program is a jointly delivered by three Directorates: Rail Safety, Intermodal Surface Security and Emergency Preparedness, and Transportation of Dangerous Goods primarily through the authority of the Railway Safety Act and the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, 1992.

As rail safety and security is a shared responsibility, TC works in collaboration with diverse stakeholders including provinces and territories, industry, labour representatives, road authorities and security and law enforcement. Core safety program elements include:

developing and administering policies and regulations;
conducting oversight through safety management system audits and inspections of railway operations, infrastructure and rolling stock;
supporting the introduction of new technology that improves safety; and

conducting education and awareness activities, with a focus on Indigenous community engagement.

In recent years, TC’s rail security program has transitioned from a largely voluntary regime to regulatory frameworks. The new regimes require industry operators to proactively mitigate risks.

Transportation of Dangerous Goods

The Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) Program promotes public safety in the transportation of dangerous goods by all modes of transport in Canada. It maintains a robust regulatory and oversight regime that supports public safety, economic growth, and innovation. It also ensures risk-based enforcement that is consistent and effective throughout the country.

Under the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, 1992 (TDG Act), the TDG Program is responsible for regulating and enforcing requirements for safe transportation of dangerous goods, which requires dangerous goods to be properly classified and transported in appropriate means of containment manufactured to a standard prescribed in the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations. The TDG Act is focused on preventing accidents while ensuring an appropriate response capability exists in the event of an incident. The TDG Program is responsible for the oversight of emergency response assistance plans (ERAPs) used to assist emergency responders and describe what to do in the event of a release or anticipated release of certain higher-risk dangerous goods while they are in transport.

Since the Lac-Mégantic tragedy in 2013, TC has more than doubled the number of inspectors conducting dangerous goods inspections and almost doubled the number of inspections per year.

National Enforcement Program

Enforcement is part of a continuum of activities to establish and maintain compliance with safety and security standards overseen by TC. TC supports and directs regulated entities on how best to come into and remain in compliance through promotion, inspection, monitoring and more directive approaches when dealing with non-compliance. Enforcement ranges from minimally intrusive responses such as verbal or written warnings to more significant actions such as the issuance of Administrative Monetary Penalties (AMP) and prosecution. 

The National Enforcement Program (NEP) delivers and supports all oversight, compliance, verification programs and enforcement at TC in accordance with the Departmental Enforcement Standards.

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