Strategic outcome and program descriptions
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Department of Transport
Strategic outcome 1
An Efficient Transportation System.
Program 1.1: Transportation Infrastructure
The Transportation Infrastructure Program oversees, funds and manages multimodal transportation infrastructure under Transport Canada's mandate to improve efficiency and service delivery for the benefit of Canadian taxpayers. The Program acts as the steward of certain commercial transportation assets operated by third parties on behalf of the federal government (airport authorities, port authorities, bridges under federal authority, VIA Rail, St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation, Marine Atlantic); provides funding for Canada's strategic transportation infrastructure to support federal objectives; and develops transportation infrastructure policy through consultation with stakeholders. It also manages Transport Canada ports and airports, supports essential services in remote communities, manages legacy commitments, and divests assets where possible.
Program 1.2: Gateways and Corridors
Canada is a trading nation, and the efficiency and reliability of the transportation system to support this trade impacts directly on the nation's prosperity and well-being. For this reason, it is imperative that the federal government play a role in the development of an integrated transportation network linking importers and exporters to markets and suppliers in the increasingly complex global supply chains. Guided by the National Policy Framework for Strategic Gateways and Corridors, the Gateways and Corridors Program supports Canada's international commerce by creating a more efficient, reliable and seamless trade-related transport system in Canada. The Program: develops initiatives to improve and integrate transportation networks in key regions; fosters partnerships between all levels of government and the private sector; supports and oversees projects that contribute to the increased capacity and efficiency of gateway and corridor infrastructure; develops and puts in place measures that remove impediments to the effective development of gateways and corridors; and markets the use of gateways and corridors within Canada and internationally.
Program 1.3: Transportation Marketplace Frameworks
The Transportation Marketplace Frameworks Program encourages transportation efficiency by fostering a competitive and viable transportation sector. The Program: sets regimes governing the economic behaviour of carriers in all modes of transportation; sets the rules of governance for all the transportation infrastructure providers falling under federal authority; monitors, analyzes, researches, and reports on the transportation system; promotes innovation in transportation; enables access to transportation for Canadians; represents the interests of Canada in trade negotiations, international transportation fora and other international bodies; promotes access to markets in the context of international trade; fosters greater cooperation to support economic activity; and fulfills certain federal responsibilities with regard to the International Bridges and Tunnels Act.
Strategic outcome 2
A Safe and Secure Transportation System.
Program 2.1: Aviation Safety
The Aviation Safety Program, under the authority of the Aeronautics Act, develops, administers and oversees the policies, regulations and standards necessary for the safe conduct of civil aviation within Canada's borders, including establishment of safety standards for the design and manufacture of aeronautical products in a manner harmonized with international standards. The Program: fosters the safety of the aviation system; provides oversight of the aviation sector; and enforces international conventions signed by Canada. It also provides aviation services and related training to support Transport Canada and other government department operations.
Program 2.2: Marine Safety
The Marine Safety Program, under the authority of the Canada Shipping Act, 2001, the Navigation Protection Act, the Safe Containers Convention Act, the Pilotage Act, the Coasting Trade Act and the Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act, develops implements and administers policies, regulations, and standards necessary for the safe conduct of marine activities in a manner harmonized with international standards. The Program: fosters the safety of the marine transportation system; provides oversight of the marine industry, including domestic and foreign vessels (both non-pleasure craft and pleasure craft); enforces international conventions signed by Canada; protects the public right to navigate on Canadian waterways; regulates lights or markers required for safe navigation during and/or on completion of certain works; regulates the placement of private buoys as per the Private Buoy Regulations of the Canada Shipping Act, 2001; and acts as the Receiver of Wreck as per the Canada Shipping Act, 2001, Part 7.
Program 2.3: Rail Safety
The Rail Safety Program, under the authority of the Railway Safety Act, develops, administers and oversees the policies, regulatory instruments necessary for the safety of railway operations in a manner consistent with North American and International safety standards/levels. The Program fosters safety within the rail transportation system and provides oversight of the rail industry. It also promotes public safety at crossings, identifies the risks of trespassing, and provides funds to improve safety at grade crossings.
Program 2.4: Transportation of Dangerous Goods
The Transportation of Dangerous Goods Program, under the authority of the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, 1992, develops, administers and oversees the policies, regulations and standards necessary for the safe transportation of dangerous goods by all modes of transport in Canada in a manner harmonized with the international standards, and provides expertise in emergency response in the event of release of dangerous goods. This Program also works to prepare for and coordinate the response to safety and security threats and incidents that may impact the national transportation system or the Department with regard to chemical, radiological, biological, nuclear or explosive substances. The Program: fosters safety in the transport of dangerous goods; provides oversight of the transportation industry; enforces international conventions signed by Canada; and responds to emergency situations that affect the safety of Canadians.
Program 2.5: Motor Vehicle Safety
The Motor Vehicle Safety Program, under the authority of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act and the Motor Vehicle Transport Act, develops, administers and oversees the policies, regulations and standards necessary for the safety of motor vehicles and commercial vehicle operations in a manner that is harmonized with international and national standards. The Program contributes to reduced road deaths and injuries and provides safety oversight of the motor vehicle industry.
Program 2.6: Aviation Security
The Aviation Security Program develops, administers and oversees the policies, regulations and standards to support the secure conduct of aviation activities in a manner harmonized with international standards. The Program is risked-based and fosters security within the aviation transportation system and provides security oversight of the aviation industry while ensuring that Canada complies with international standards.
Program 2.7: Marine Security
The Marine Security Program, under the authority of the Marine Transportation Security Act, develops, administers and oversees the policies, regulations and standards necessary for the secure conduct of marine activities in a manner consistent with international standards. The Program promotes security within the marine transportation system, provides oversight of the regulated marine transportation industry and enforces international conventions signed by Canada. The Program coordinates marine security policy and regulatory development across the Government of Canada through its leadership of the interdepartmental Marine Security Working Group and associated activities. The Marine Security initiative will no longer be reported as a horizontal initiative. This initiative has been reported as a horizontal initiative since its launch in 2001.This initiative will continue to be reported as part of the Analysis of Programs by Strategic Outcome in Section II of the Reports on Plans and Priorities and Departmental Performance Reports of each federal organization involved. Past horizontal reports on this initiative can be found at the Treasury Board Secretariat's Horizontal Initiatives Database.
Program 2.8: Multimodal Safety and Security
The Multimodal Safety and Security Program contributes to policies and standards that enhance safety and/or security in more than one transportation mode (e.g., through departmental enforcement services, integrated management systems and intelligence assessments). It also provides a technical training regime for inspectors and technical experts, ensuring the required competencies are acquired and maintained to meet or surpass nationally consistent standards. Lastly, this Program works to prepare for and coordinate the response to emerging safety and security threats and situations that may impact the national transportation system or the department.
Program 2.9: Surface and Intermodal Security
The Surface and Intermodal Security Program, guided by the Railway Safety Act, the International Bridges and Tunnels Act, and the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, develops, administers and oversees the policies, regulations/voluntary frameworks, standards and guidance material necessary for the secure conduct of surface and intermodal activities. The Program fosters the security of the surface and intermodal transportation system across Canada.
Strategic outcome 3
A Clean Transportation System.
Program 3.1: Environmental Stewardship of Transportation
The Environmental Stewardship Program fulfills Transport Canada's responsibilities in working towards an environmentally responsible and resilient national transportation system for Canadians by ensuring compliance with the department's environmental obligations in relation to Acts, Regulations, policies and guidelines, and meeting the department's obligations towards Aboriginal peoples. The Program: fulfills Transport Canada's responsibilities to implement a Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy under the Federal Sustainable Development Act; ensures that Transport Canada's lands and facilities are managed in an environmentally responsible manner in compliance with federal legislation and policies; provides functional support for environmental assessments, including for major resource projects; manages contaminated sites; advises on Aboriginal consultation, engagement and treaty negotiations and implementation; and seeks to increase the national transportation system's resilience to the current and anticipated future climate and extreme weather events.
Program 3.2: Clean Air from Transportation
Transport Canada's Clean Air from Transportation Program advances the federal government's environmental agenda in the transportation sector and complements other federal programs designed to reduce air pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions to improve the health of Canadians and the environment for generations to come. The Program: regulates air pollutant and/or greenhouse gas emissions from the air, marine, and rail sectors; and implements Transport Canada clean air program obligations and commitments.
Program 3.3: Clean Water from Transportation
The Clean Water from Transportation Program protects the marine environment by reducing the pollution of water from transportation sources. This Program regulates and monitors the release and impact of discharges from marine vessels into the marine environment, regulates ballast water, and contributes to setting domestic and international rules that govern limits to liability of marine pollution incidents. This Program advances the federal government's clean water agenda in the transportation sector and complements other federal programs designed to protect the marine environment for the health of Canadians and the environment for generations to come. This Program also represents Canada in discussions to set international standards to prevent pollution from vessels operating in Canada's waters and address the threat of aquatic invasive species.
Strategic outcome 4
The following program supports all strategic outcomes within this organization.
Program 4.1: Internal Services
Internal Services are those groups of related activities and resources that the Federal Government considers to be services in support of programs and/or required to meet corporate obligations of an organization. Internal Services refer to the activities and resources of ten distinct services that support program delivery in the organization, regardless of the Internal Services delivery model in a department. These services are: Acquisition Management Services, Communications Services, Financial Management Services, Human Resources Management Services, Information Management Services, Information Technology Services, Legal Services, Materiel Management Services, Management and Oversight Services, Real Property Management Services.
Canadian Air Transport Security Authority
Strategic outcome 1
Screening programs at designated Canadian airports protect the travelling public.
Program 1.1: Pre-Board Screening
Pre-Board Screening is the most public and visible of Canadian Air Transport Security Authority's mandate. At airport checkpoints across the country, security screening of passengers and their belongings are conducted by Canadian Air Transport Security Authority's Screening Officers. Passengers are screened before they enter the secure area of an airport terminal. Screening Officers use a variety of screening technologies and procedures to examine passengers and their belongings, making sure that they are not carrying potentially dangerous items, such as firearms, incendiary devices and explosives. No objects or materials that are on Transport Canada's Prohibited Items List are allowed on board an aircraft to eliminate the possibility that they could be used to cause harm. Investments in new leading-edge technology and training of the Screening Officer workforce, combined with continuously improving operational procedures, ensure that Canadian Air Transport Security Authority's Pre-Board Screening remains compatible with its international partners in aviation security.
Program 1.2: Hold Baggage Screening
In addition to screening passengers and their carry-on baggage, Screening Officers use specialized equipment to screen passengers' checked baggage (or hold baggage) to prevent the boarding of items such as explosives that could cause a potential threat to air transportation, adding a vital layer of security protecting the travelling public. Canadian Air Transport Security Authority purchases and integrates the equipment into the airport's baggage handling system, oversees equipment operation and maintenance, and manages Screening Officer training on the detection equipment. Canadian Air Transport Security Authority also conducts ongoing testing and evaluation of new equipment and technologies, and performance measuring and monitoring of its Hold Baggage Screening processes and systems.
Program 1.3: Non-Passenger Screening
As per direction from Transport Canada, Canadian Air Transport Security Authority's Screening Officers conduct, on a random basis, screening of individuals accessing restricted areas at Class I and II airports, providing an additional layer of security. Non-passengers include flight and cabin crews, airline customer service personnel, caterers, maintenance personnel, baggage handlers, vendors and concession and other airport service staff.
Program 1.4: Restricted Area Identity Card
The Restricted Area Identity Card Program is the world's first dual biometric (iris and fingerprint) airport identification program for non-passengers accessing restricted areas of air terminal buildings. The identity cards include a built-in computer chip with a microprocessor and memory to store biometric data of fingerprint and iris templates. The Restricted Area Identity Card Program includes the cards, fingerprint and iris readers installed in airport terminals and a network infrastructure linking airports to a secure central database. Fully operational since January 31, 2007, the Restricted Area Identity Card Program covers Class I and II airports and has the ability to interface with the airports' access control systems.
Strategic outcome 4
The following program supports all strategic outcomes within this organization.
Program 4.1: Internal Services
Internal Services are those groups of related activities and resources that the Federal Government considers to be services in support of programs and/or required to meet corporate obligations of an organization. Internal Services refer to the activities and resources of ten distinct services that support program delivery in the organization, regardless of the Internal Services delivery model in a department. These services are: Acquisition Management Services, Communications Services, Financial Management Services, Human Resources Management Services, Information Management Services, Information Technology Services, Legal Services, Materiel Management Services, Management and Oversight Services, Real Property Management Services.
Canadian Transportation Agency
Strategic outcome 1
Transparent, fair and timely dispute resolution and economic regulation of the national transportation system.
Program 1.1: Economic Regulation
The Agency supports an efficient and accessible federal transportation system for users, service providers and other stakeholders through economic regulation of federal air, rail and marine transportation. It acts as the regulator of air transportation by enforcing the Canada Transportation Act and related regulations, administering a licensing and charter permit system, authorizing code share and wet lease arrangements, supporting the negotiation of air bilateral agreements, and ensuring that terms and conditions of carriage of air carriers are consistent with Canadian legislation. It develops regulations and codes of practice to remove undue obstacles to the mobility of persons with disabilities from the federal transportation network. It regulates rail transportation by issuing certificates of fitness and enforcing compliance with minimum insurance requirements consistent with Canadian legislation and regulations. It determines railway costs, approves rail line construction, oversees the discontinuance of service, establishes the net salvage value of rail lines, and determines interswitching rates and the maximum revenue entitlement for the movement of Western grain. It acts as an economic regulator in marine transportation by determining whether suitable Canadian vessels are available when applications are made to use foreign vessels.
Program 1.2: Adjudication and Alternative Dispute Resolution
The Agency provides formal and informal dispute resolution services to users, service providers and others affected by the federal transportation network, including facilitation, mediation, arbitration, and adjudication. As a quasi-judicial tribunal, the Agency has the authority to issue adjudicative decisions and orders on matters within its jurisdiction over federal rail, air and marine modes of transportation and, in respect of the Agency's accessibility mandate, extra-provincial bus operations. It resolves disputes between: air travellers and air carriers regarding terms and conditions of air carriage; persons with disabilities and service providers regarding undue obstacles to the mobility of such persons within the federal transportation network; rail shippers, railway companies, and those affected by railway service regarding level of service; shippers and railway companies when they are unable to negotiate level of service agreements; municipalities, provinces and road authorities regarding crossings and firefighting expenses, landowners and railways regarding rail infrastructure; railways and individuals or communities affected by rail noise and vibration; public passenger service providers and railway companies regarding conditions or amounts to be paid for the use of railways, land, equipment, facilities or services; Canadian ship owners and other interested persons regarding coasting trade and pilotage and port authorities regarding charges for pilotage services or port fees.
Strategic outcome 2
The following program supports all strategic outcomes within this organization.
Program 2.1: Internal Services
Internal Services are those groups of related activities and resources that the Federal Government considers to be services in support of programs and/or required to meet corporate obligations of an organization. Internal Services refer to the activities and resources of ten distinct services that support program delivery in the organization, regardless of the Internal Services delivery model in a department. These services are: Acquisition Management Services, Communications Services, Financial Management Services, Human Resources Management Services, Information Management Services, Information Technology Services, Legal Services, Materiel Management Services, Management and Oversight Services, Real Property Management Services.
Marine Atlantic Inc.
Strategic outcome 1
Provide a safe, environmentally responsible, and quality ferry service between the Island of Newfoundland and the Province of Nova Scotia in a reliable, courteous and cost-effective manner.
Program 1.1: Ferry Services
Marine Atlantic Inc. is a parent Crown Corporation that fulfills Canada's constitutional obligation to Newfoundland and Labrador to provide a year-round ferry service between North Sydney, Nova Scotia and Port aux Basques, Newfoundland and Labrador. It also operates a non-constitutional seasonal service between North Sydney and Argentia, Newfoundland and Labrador.
The Federal Bridge Corporation Limited
Strategic outcome 1
Safe and efficient transit on the infrastructure maintained, operated and managed by The Federal Bridge Corporation Limited.
Program 1.1: Construction of a new low-level bridge in Cornwall, Ontario as well as related infrastructure improvements
This program encompasses the construction of a new low-level bridge in Cornwall, to replace the deteriorating North Channel Span of the Seaway International Bridge, as well as related infrastructure improvements on Cornwall Island.
VIA Rail Canada Inc.
Strategic outcome 1
A national passenger rail transportation service that is safe, secure, efficient, reliable, and environmentally sustainable and that meets the needs of travellers in Canada.
Program 1.1: Operation of a national network of rail passenger services
Provision of year-round services in the Quebec City-Windsor Corridor, transcontinental passenger services between Halifax and Montreal and between Toronto and Vancouver, and the regional and remote services in northern and outlying areas of the country.