At a GlanceReport 5—Follow-up Audit on Rail Safety—Transport Canada
Why we did this audit
- Rail safety accidents can have serious consequences, including the loss of life and damage to property, goods, and the environment.
- This audit followed up on selected recommendations from our 2013 Fall Report of the Auditor General of Canada, Chapter 7—Oversight of Rail Safety—Transport Canada.
Our findings
- Transport Canada made progress in assessing and following up on railway companies’ corrective actions, but the department has not assessed the effectiveness of the railways’ safety management systems—despite the many reports over the last 14 years recommending that Transport Canada audit and assess these systems.
- Transport Canada increased the number of its planned risk‑based inspections and conducted more safety management system audits. However, the department did not consider the results of departmental audits in its oversight planning and did not measure the overall effectiveness of its oversight activities.
- Transport Canadahad not fully implement all of the selected recommendations from our 2013 audit report.
Key facts and figures
- Transport Canada, under the Railway Safety Act, is responsible for overseeing safety requirements for federally regulated railway companies. The department’s oversight role includes monitoring compliance and enforcement activities.
- In all, there are 75 railway companies and more than 45,000 kilometres of railway tracks in Canada that are subject to Transport Canada’s oversight.
- Over the past 14 years, several reports recommended that Transport Canada assess the effectiveness of railway companies’ safety management systems.
- Transport Canada’s Rail Safety Oversight Program includes 149 full‑time staff and a budget of $24.2 million.
Our recommendations
- Transport Canada should determine the extent to which its inspections and audits have improved the railway companies’ compliance with regulations that mitigate key safety risks. The department should integrate these results into its risk‑based planning decisions, including determining which and how many inspections to perform.
- Transport Canada should improve guidance to railway companies so that safety data submissions are complete, reliable, and timely.
- Transport Canada should integrate the findings from audits of safety management systems when planning its oversight activities and adjust its selection of planned inspections to address areas of highest risk.
- Transport Canada should set standards for the time it should take to assess whether railway companies corrected deficiencies identified in inspections and audits of safety management systems.
We have more recommendations! See full list of recommendations and responses
Related information
| Entities | |
|---|---|
| Completion date | 13 January 2021 |
| Tabling date | 25 February 2021 |
| Related audits |
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