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 regulatory research and operation activities, including the Motor Vehicle Test Centre; and  

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

Stephanie Hébert

Stephanie Hébert

Assistant Deputy Minister, Programs

  Bio

Assistant Deputy Minister: Stephanie Hébert

Number of employees: 417

Directorates:

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

  • Transportation Infrastructure Programs  

Overview: 

Grants and Contributions:  

Transport Canada manages grants and contributions for 40 programs valued at $2.2B (2024-25), including:

  • $965M in Contribution funding; and

  • $1.23B in Grant funding.

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 funds feasibility studies, digital projects, and infrastructure projects that relieve supply chain congestion, prevent bottlenecks, and/or facilitate the movement of goods to internal and external markets.  

  • Safety Infrastructure, Education & Awareness: TC funds smaller scale infrastructure, education 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: The Airports Capital Assistance Program is a contribution program, with an annual funding envelope of $38M, that assists local and regional airport owners with safety-related capital maintenance of existing infrastructure (e.g., rehabilitation of airside surfaces, lighting, etc.). 

  • Road Safety: Funding programs that support the development of a national regulatory framework for motor carrier safety and for Canadian projects supporting Canada’s Road Safety Strategy 2025.

  • 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 and Outaouais Road Agreement). 

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/lease of light-duty zero-emission vehicles [iZEV] and medium and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles [iMHZEV];

    • help advance low and zero emission infrastructure and technologies on shore and on vessels that contribute to the establishment of green shipping corridors; and  

    • help advance the safe and secure deployment of zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles on Canadian roads.

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

Supporting Indigenous Capacity Building:  

  • Funding programs to build capacity of Indigenous groups and support their meaningful participation in consultation and engagement processes related to TC’s programs, policies, regulations, and legislation, in the marine and rail domains.

  • The department provides funding to support the ongoing and safe operation of Indigenous-owned remote passenger rail services to communities with limited or no other transportation options.

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 4 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. 

The St. Lawrence Seaway

  • In 1998, the management of the St Lawrence Seaway was commercialized under the Canada Marine Act to enhance competitiveness and to promote a commercial approach to its operation, including the management of its significant portfolio of capital assets. The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation was established by major users of the Seaway and constituted as a not-for-profit corporation. The Government of Canada retains ownership of the Seaway’s navigation and non-navigation assets. The TC Programs Group is responsible for the administration of the various agreements that govern the day-to-day operation of the Seaway.

Impact Assessment

  • 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.
  • TC is responsible for conducting assessments of proposed projects on federal lands when it is the landowner, regulator or funder.

Strategic Environmental and Economic Assessment

  • Ensure TC fulfills its obligations under the Cabinet Directive on Strategic Environmental and Economic Assessment when preparing Memoranda to Cabinet, Treasury Board Submissions, regulatory proposals subject to the Cabinet Directive on Regulation, and funding requests.

Environmental Remediation and Protection

  • Management of the Environmental Remediation Investment Strategy, which oversees assessment, management and remediation of TC’s contaminated sites.
  • Meeting the requirements of environmental legislation, guidelines and policies on TC lands, and facilitating implementation of the Greening Government Strategy at TC.

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

  • Keep Canadian waterways and coasts unimpeded for navigation 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 (e.g., automated vehicles, unmanned ships, drones, hydrogen locomotives, marine mammal detection technologies) to support TC’s development of regulations, policies, programs and operations. Through this work, the Innovation Centre ensures that new innovations are 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 evaluate new technologies to improve the safety of vulnerable road users. 

  • Provides operational and logistical support for TC’s motor vehicle safety and civil aviation programs, including testing of new motor vehicles and equipment sold in Canada, and managing TC’s aircraft de-icing certification programs -- in collaboration with international partners.