Proposed legislative changes to enhance transparency and accountability in the transportation system

The Minister of Transport has introduced Bill C-52, the Enhancing Transparency and Accountability in the Transportation System Act, which would enact the Air Transportation Accountability Act and amend the Canada Transportation Act and the Canada Marine Act.

Bill C-52 aims to improve transparency and accountability in three areas of the federal transportation network.

PART I: Enacting the Air Transportation Accountability Act to enhance accountability and transparency in air transportation

Key measures would include:

• Service standards and public reporting: Permit the creation of regulations that would require service providers like airlines and airports to set service standards for different parts of the passenger journey. The regulations would also require operators to publish performance results against these standards. Examples could include how long it should typically take for a bag to arrive on the carousel, or the expected wait time to enter security screening.
• Information requirements: authorize the Minister of Transport to require airports and other operators to provide information to the Minister, where needed, to inform strategic decision-making.
• Noise consultation: formalize a noise consultation process, making airport noise committees the point of contact for the public, as well as outlining a public notice and consultation process where airspace changes would be considered.
• Environmental obligations: require airport authorities to report on and publish their climate change action plans and targets.
• Diversity: require federally incorporated airport authorities to publish information on diversity among their directors and members of senior management.

PART II: Amending the Canada Transportation Act to strengthen accessibility performance monitoring

Key measures would include:

• Accessibility reporting and publishing: create reporting standards for accessibility data that could include data on accessibility-related complaints and accommodation requests, and create an approach to identify, remove and prevent barriers to accessibility. Would also allow the Minister of Transport and the Canadian Transportation Agency to publish accessibility data.
• Complaints: create a requirement for service providers within the federal transportation system (e.g., airlines, ferries) to introduce a process for dealing with accessibility complaints and accommodation requests.

PART III: Amending the Canada Marine Act to enhance transparency and accountability for Canada Port Authorities

Key measures would include:

• Rate-setting: require that Canada Port Authorities follow certain principles when establishing and changing fees.
• Complaint process: create a process for port users and tenants to challenge a new or revised port fee with the Canadian Transportation Agency.
• Alternative dispute resolution: regulation-making authority to develop an alternative dispute resolution process for terminal leases at ports.
• Cost recovery: allow the Canadian Transportation Agency to make rules for fees and recover the costs to administer and enforce rate setting and dispute resolution provisions.