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- Response to parliamentary committees
- Response to audits conducted by the Office of the Auditor General of Canada (including audits conducted by the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development)
Response to Parliamentary Committees
AGRI Report 16 – Striking a Balance: Electronic Logging Device Requirements Impacting Animal Transportation
Summary of the report: On December 11, 2023, the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food issued its sixteenth report, Striking a Balance: Electronic Logging Device Requirements Impacting Animal Transportation. The report includes 5 recommendations, three of which fall under the responsibility of Transport Canada. These first 3 recommendations aimed to provide additional flexibility regarding work and rest rules for commercial drivers transporting animals and bees to achieve positive transport outcomes and avoid animal welfare incidents.
Corrective actions taken to address the recommendations: The Government supports the first three recommendations in principle as detailed in the Government Response to the Sixteenth report of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food), which was tabled in the House of Commons on April 8, 2024. Commercial vehicle safety and oversight is a shared responsibility among federal and provincial/territorial governments and commercial vehicle owners and operators. Transport Canada officials continue to work collaboratively with all provincial/territorial jurisdictions through the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA), in the development and maintenance of the National Safety Code for Motor Carriers, to enhance road safety, promote efficiency in the motor carrier industry, and to achieve national consistency on commercial trucking regulations.
The Government of Canada shared the recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee with provinces and territories through the CCMTA for their consideration and action as appropriate. The CCMTA formed a Task Force to examine the Application Guide for Hours of Service and Transport Canada was a member. The Task Force recommended amendments to the Application Guide to address the concerns of the livestock and bee sector, and the Council’s Board of Directors subsequently approved the changes and posted a new version of the application guide on June 2, 2024 (Commercial Vehicle Drivers Hours of Service Regulations).
Transport Canada also informed the CCMTA of the livestock and bee sector’s request for consideration towards regulatory changes as part of the CCMTA’s next review of the National Safety Code Standard 9.
Transport Canada has advised the livestock and bee sector on the application process for exemption under section 16 of the Motor Vehicle Transport Act focused on addressing specific problems and proposing specific relief needs. In accordance with the Motor Vehicle Transport Act, the granting of an exemption occurs after consultations with provinces and territories, if the Minister of Transport is of the view that the exemption is in the public interest and unlikely to affect motor carrier safety.
CIIT Report 18 – The Strike in 2023 at British Columbia Ports: Selected Economic Impacts and Federal Actions
Summary of the report: Corrective actions taken to address the recommendations: The Standing Committee on International Trade’s (CIIT) 18th report, The Strike in 2023 at British Columbia Ports: Selected Economic Impacts and Federal Actions examined the 2023 British Columbia ports strike and its significant impact on Canada’s economy and supply chains. The strike caused major disruptions to trade flows, delays across the supply chain, and increased costs for businesses. The report also highlighted the potential damage to Canada’s international reputation as a reliable and efficient trading partner.
As a result, the Committee made recommendations to improve the overall resilience and reliability of Canada’s trade and transportation systems. These include fostering greater stakeholder engagement through better communication and coordination when responding to labour disruptions, reinforcing the labour relations framework while respecting the right to strike, enhancing efficiency and global competitiveness at Canadian ports, advancing key infrastructure projects such as Roberts Bank Terminal 2, as well as stronger federal leadership during labour disruptions and greater attention to supply chain issues such as domestic food affordability.
Corrective actions taken to address the recommendations: The Government Response to the Eighteenth Report of the Standing Committee on International Trade outlined several concrete actions, including the creation of the National Supply Chain Office in December 2023. The office is intended to coordinate efforts across public and private sectors to enhance overall supply chain performance, promote data sharing, analyze systemic bottlenecks, and develop a National Transportation Supply Chain Strategy. A new Federal-Provincial-Territorial Working Group was established in February 2024, focused on investment principles and infrastructure priorities. This group aims to foster better coordination across jurisdictions to align transportation infrastructure planning with national economic objectives, ensuring that ports and trade corridors remain efficient and globally competitive. Additionally, the Government also took action to initiate a review of the structural issues underlying the strike at the West Coast ports, as well as similar disputes that have occurred in ports across Canada.
At the same time, the Government has advanced many major investments through the National Trade Corridors Fund (NTCF) (2017-18 to 2027-28). The program supports all modes of transportation, prioritizing nationally significant infrastructure, digital innovation, and greater resilience of the Canadian transportation system. Since 2017, 213 projects have been approved under the NTCF, representing $4.1 billion in federal funding commitments. To address domestic food affordability, the Government has amended the Competition Act to improve market fairness and consumer choice and introduced programs like the National School Food Program and expanded local food infrastructure funding to enhance food security nationwide.
Lastly, the government reaffirmed its commitment to improving information flow during supply chain disruptions. Transport Canada continues to monitor system performance and engage with industry stakeholders to enhance transparency, coordination, and preparedness. These efforts reflect a broader move toward a more proactive and integrated approach to strengthening supply chain resilience and supporting economic stability.
Response to audits conducted by the Office of the Auditor General of Canada (including audits conducted by the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development)
Response to audits from the Auditor General of Canada
There were no audits in 2024–25 that required a response.
Response to audits from the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development
There were no recommendations for Transport Canada.
There were no recommendations for Transport Canada.
Response to audits conducted by the Public Service Commission of Canada or the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages
There were no recommendations for Transport Canada.