2021 Reports of the Auditor General of Canada to the Parliament of Canada—Transport Canada slow to improve oversight of rail safety

2021 Reports of the Auditor General of Canada to the Parliament of CanadaTransport Canada slow to improve oversight of rail safety

Ottawa, 25 February 2021—A report from Auditor General Karen Hogan tabled today in the House of Commons found that Transport Canada (TC) still had not addressed all recommendations from a prior 2013 Auditor General audit of rail safety oversight that were selected for follow up.

The audit found that Transport Canada had made important improvements to the way it plans and prioritizes activities to oversee rail safety, and also in its follows-up on rail companies’ plans and actions to address deficiencies noted in inspections. However, the department had not assessed whether its oversight activities improved rail safety. The department also had not measured the effectiveness of railway companies’ safety management systems, despite many reports over the last 14 years that have recommended that Transport Canada audit and assess these systems.

“Rail safety accidents can have serious consequences, causing devastating loss of life and environmental damage,” said Ms. Hogan. “I am very concerned that while Transport Canada has taken some actions to address our recommendations, 8 years after our last audit, there is still much left to do to improve the oversight of rail safety in Canada.”

The 2021 Reports of the Auditor General of Canada—Report 5—Follow-up Audit on Rail Safety—Transport Canada is available on the Office of the Auditor General of Canada website.

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