Latest developments

In 2022, lingering impacts of COVID-19 were still negatively impacting the road sector from both the passenger and freight perspectives, as well as the efficiency of national supply chains and trucking services. Passenger volumes continued to recover well along with the return of traffic congestion in many major cities. Although there was a high demand for freight and trucking services in the beginning of the year, some downward trends in freight demand were observed in later part of the year due to inflation and rising interest costs.

Transport Canada continued to work closely with federal partners like the Canada Border Services Agency to accelerate reopening of Free and Secure Trade (FAST) enrollment centres at the Canada-U.S. border and increase the number of FAST-approved Canadian truck drivers for transborder freight.

Both Canada and the United States re-opened their land borders in the Fall of 2021, allowing travel between the two countries for non-essential purposes as well. However, non-U.S. travellers, including truck drivers, seeking to enter the United States via land ports of entry at the U.S.-Canada borders were still required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof of vaccination upon request.

There has been a significant downward trend in motor vehicle casualties for decades in Canada. Since their peak in the mid-1970s, fatalities have decreased by over two-thirds while serious injuries have declined over 60% even though the number of vehicles and kilometres driven by Canadians have increased significantly.

Over the years, Transport Canada has introduced or updated a significant number of vehicle safety standards, regulations, technical standards and test methods concerning vehicle safety features such as electronic stability control, door lock and door retention, truck anti-lock brakes, steering control systems, head restraints, child restraints, seat anchorage strength, occupant protection in frontal collisions, tires, headlights, rear view mirror visibility, helmet and seatbelt use.

In 2022, Transport Canada continued to support the safety and security of the road network with the following initiatives:

• Supported the development and publication of updated Jurisdictional Guidelines for the Safe Testing and Deployment of Automated Driving Systems by the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators.
• Contributed to the development of international guidelines on Functional Safety, Validation Methods, and Safety Considerations for Human Drivers using automation technologies, published by the World Forum for the Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations and the Global Forum for Road Traffic Safety.
• Advanced research on simulation and scenarios-based approaches for testing automated vehicle technologies to inform future guidance and regulatory work.
• Continued to advance vehicle cyber security by progressing on the priorities set out in Transport Canada’s Vehicle Cyber Security Strategy, including research on emerging issues such as supply chain cyber security and automotive cyber talent and skills development.
• Continuation of the school bus safety pilot projects and recommendations from the Strengthening School Bus Safety in Canada report from the Task Force on School Bus Safety facilitated the development of the proposed regulations in the Canada Gazette Part I published in July 2022. Stakeholder comments to these proposed regulations are being reviewed with a view to publishing a final regulation in 2023-24.
• The Enhanced Road Safety Transfer Payment Program continued to monitor the progress and administer the funding of 89 approved projects to support nationally consistent road objectives (e.g., measures to address impaired and distracted driving).
• Completed preparations with provincial and territorial enforcement communities for full implementation of the requirement for Electronic Logging Devices by motor carriers starting January 2023.

The Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change committed the federal government to work with provinces, territories, and industry to explore options for retrofitting heavy-duty vehicles with fuel-saving technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

In 2018, the federal-provincial-territorial Task Force on Heavy-Duty Vehicle Retrofits was created to explore options to reduce emissions from the existing fleet. In 2021, the Task Force completed its Phase I Report, which delivered a detailed profile of Canada’s heavy-duty vehicle sector. Phase II was completed in 2022, which examined and assessed various retrofit programs and policies across North America that support the adoption of retrofits.

The Government of Canada released its 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) in March 2022, which included several commitments and investments that target emissions from on-road vehicles:

• Committing to develop zero-emission vehicle sales regulations for both the light-duty vehicle sector and the medium- and heavy-duty vehicle sector. Proposed regulations for light-duty vehicles were released in December 2022.
• Investing an additional $1.7 billion to extend and expand the Incentives for Zero-Emission Vehicles (iZEV) Program for light-duty vehicles for 3 years until March 31, 2025.
• Investing $400 million in support of the Government’s objective of adding zero-emission vehicle chargers to Canada’s network. This is supported by an additional $500 million from the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
• Investing $547.5 million to launch the Incentives for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Zero-Emission Vehicles (iMHZEV) Program in July 2022 and provide up to $200,000 for eligible medium- and heavy duty zero-emission vehicles.
• Investing $199.6 million to retrofit large trucks currently on the road.
• Investing $75.8 million to contribute to accelerating the safe deployment of medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles on Canadian roads through: research; deployments; capacity funding for PTs and guideline, code, standard, and regulatory development; and capital investments at TC’s Motor Vehicle Test Centre.​.
• Investing $2.2 million to support Greening Government fleet electrification commitments.

The Government of Canada also released Canada’s Action Plan for Clean On-Road Transportation in December 2022. This Action Plan outlines Canada’s whole-of-government strategy to reduce emissions from the on-road transportation sector through a combination of regulations, vehicle incentives, capitalizing on clean growth opportunities, collaboration with leading jurisdictions, and investments in charging infrastructure and consumer education. These measures have helped Canada reach a light-duty zero-emission vehicle market share of 8.9% in 2022, increasing from 5.6% in 2021 and 3.8% in 2020.