From: Transport Canada
Response to parliamentary committees
Canada's Ocean War Graves
On May 28, 2018, the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities issued its Twenty-Third report entitled “Canada’s Ocean War Graves”. The report includes six recommendations relating to, among other things, the need to develop standalone legislation to protect Canada’s ocean war graves. Parks Canada agency, National Defence and Transport Canada support the finding of the study and will undertake actions in response to the findings as detailed in the government response, which was tabled in the House of Commons on September 25, 2018.
Driving Change: Technology and the Future of the Automated Vehicle
On January 29, 2018, the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications issued its ninth report entitled “Driving Change: Technology and the future of the automated vehicle”. The report includes eight recommendations urging various government departments to work with innovators to lay the groundwork for policy that will encourage the responsible development of this technology. The Government is supportive of the Report and its eight recommendations as detailed in the government response, which was tabled in the House of Commons on July 27, 2018.
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)
Fall 2018 Reports of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development - Report 2 – Protecting Marine Mammals
The audit examined whether departments have adequately identified and communicated measures to protect marine mammals from the threats posed by marine traffic and commercial fishing. The horizontal audit included the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Parks Canada and Transport Canada and covered the period of January 2018 to June 2018, a timeframe that pre-dated the launch of the Whales Initiative.
The report mentioned activity at the time to improve the protection of marine mammals and cited several examples of effective measures Transport Canada implemented. However, the CESD called for improved communications amongst the departments concerned and concluded that they had not done enough to ensure marine mammals are protected from threats posed by vessels and commercial fishing activities.
Transport Canada agreed with the two recommendations made to it in conjunction with the others and continues to work with those departments to review, assess and implement measures including restrictions on vessel operations in marine protected areas to protect marine mammals from threats posed by marine traffic.
Fall 2018 Reports of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Report 3 – Departmental Progress in Implementing Sustainable Development Strategies
This report looked at all 26 departments/agencies required to develop sustainable development strategies and to contribute to the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy.
The audit examined whether the departments applied the Cabinet Directive on Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals and the related guidelines for submissions to Cabinet for approval between January and December 2017.
Transport Canada’s compliance was high at 85% for the 13 proposals it put forward
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
December 2018 – System-Wide Staffing Audit
The audit reviewed a representative sample of 386 appointments (12 for Transport Canada) from 25 departments and agencies for the period of April 1 to November 30, 2016. The Public Service Commission issued a questionnaire to staffing advisors and sub-delegated managers to gauge awareness and understanding of the New Direction in Staffing (NDS) as well as reviewed organization staffing systems to determine whether and how the requirements of the NDS have been implemented.
Overall findings were positive: staffing advisors and sub-delegated managers reported high levels of awareness of changes related to the new requirements of the NDS and there were high levels of compliance for requirements regarding consideration of persons with a priority entitlement, merit, and other appointment-related authorities.
Transport Canada had recently updated its Delegation of Human Resources Authorities and it aligns with the NDS. As part of its staffing monitoring program, the Department undertook a monitoring exercise with respect to compliance, file documentation and quality assurance. It also offered managers across the department information sessions on the Delegation of Human Resources Authorities to help increase their understanding of staffing sub-delegation and human resources authorities.
There were no recommendations for Transport Canada.