Improving the oversight of the transportation of dangerous goods
Transport Canada has continued to oversee the safe and secure transportation of dangerous goods. In 2021, 85 inspectors carried out 3,602 inspections and completed 5,003 enforcement actions and risk reduction measures.
As a result of the restrictions put in place following the pandemic, Transport Canada has improved the oversight of dangerous goods by:
- issuing guidance on alternative oversight activities, including remote inspections, and
- issuing 16 temporary certificates and one equivalency certificate so dangerous goods could continue moving in support of pandemic relief efforts
Launching new research projects
Work is underway on 23 new projects on transporting dangerous goods, to be initiated from 2020 to 2023. A total of $3.6 million has been allocated to the 23 research projects, with funding provided through court settlements paid in connection with the tragic 2013 Lac-Mégantic train derailment.
Regulatory sandbox on electronic shipping documents
As part of the Transportation Sector Regulatory Review Roadmap, Transport Canada launched a Regulatory Sandbox on Electronic Shipping Documents. This pilot project assesses the feasibility, effectiveness, and safety of using electronic shipping documents instead of the currently required paper documents. This project includes analysing the impacts, costs, and benefits of using electronic shipping documents instead of paper ones.
Responding to emergencies
CANUTEC (the Canadian Transport Emergency Centre) continued to distribute the Emergency Response Guidebook 2020 to Canadian first responders. This guide, designed for incidents involving dangerous goods on highways or rail lines, helps first responders identify hazards based on the material involved in an incident, and protect themselves and the public during the initial response to an incident.
Responding to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Accounts
In November 2020, the Commissioner for the Environment and Sustainable Development released their follow-up audit of the TDG Program and the Canada Energy Regulator. Overall, the Commissioner concluded that the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Program has improved, but there’s still work to do.
In response, the TDG program committed to addressing the findings over a two year period, guided by a Management Action Plan to track progress. As of December 2021, 2 of the 5 recommendations have been addressed, and the TDG program continues to work on responding to the remaining three.