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TSB policy on representations on confidential draft reports

Effective July 1, 2018, last revised March 10, 2021

1. Context

1.1 In accordance with subsection 24(1) of the Canadian Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board Act (CTAISB Act), upon completion of any investigation, the Board must prepare a report on its findings and make it available to the public. However, before the report is finalized, pursuant to subsection 24(2) of the CTAISB Act and in accordance with procedures contained in the Board bylaws, the Board sends a confidential draft of the investigation report to each minister and any other persons (organizations and individuals) who, in the opinion of the Board, have a direct interest in the Board’s findings.

It is an underlying principle of the Board to strive to ensure that fairness, accuracy, confidentiality, international commitments and legal obligations, as outlined in the CTAISB Act, are taken into account when identifying such persons.

The Board must provide these persons a reasonable opportunity to make representations on the draft report before the final report is prepared.

2. Definitions

2.1 “Confidential draft report review” (CDR review) is the stage of the investigation process at which designated reviewers are invited to make representations on the draft report.

2.2 “Designated reviewers” (DRs) are organizations and individuals who, in the opinion of the Board, have a direct interest in the Board’s findings and can contribute to the completeness and accuracy of the report. DRs are identified using the criteria defined in this policy.

3. Policy objective

3.1 The purpose of this policy is to define the criteria for the selection of DRs who will be invited to make representations on confidential draft reports (CDRs) and to establish a framework for handling representations on CDRs.

4. Policy requirements

Selection of designated reviewers

4.1 The organizations and individuals who, in the opinion of the Board, meet one of these criteria are selected as DRs:

4.2 It is the next of kin of a deceased crew member who is named as a DR, not the executor of the deceased’s estate. However, the next of kin may ask the executor to represent them for the CDR review.

4.3 Other individuals (e.g., passengers, passengers’ next-of-kin, unions, insurance companies, local community leaders) may have an interest in an occurrence and the associated TSB report. However, these individuals are not usually considered to be DRs because their input is unlikely to add to the completeness and accuracy of the report.

4.4 Coroners are not enlisted as DRs because they conduct their own investigations or inquiries.

Confidential draft report review

4.5 At the discretion of the Board, the DRs will be provided with a complete CDR or just the sections relevant to them, and will be invited to make representations. The Board may also provide laboratory reports to some DRs to help them fully understand the issues discussed in the CDR.

4.6 DRs must agree to an undertaking to respect subsections 24(3), 24(4.1) and 24(4.4) of the CTAISB Act before they are given a copy of the CDR. The terms and conditions included in the undertaking also provide the direction to destroy and not to copy the confidential draft report, once the initial purpose for which it has been provided ceases to exist.

4.7 DRs may ask another person or third party to help them review the CDR and prepare their representations. However, before they are given a copy of the CDR, DRs and whoever is providing them with assistance, must agree to the undertaking referred to in section 4.6.

4.8 All representations must be submitted to the Board in writing.

4.9 The Board does not meet with DRs to discuss their representations. This ensures that all DRs are given equal consideration and that all representations are fully documented in the investigation file.

4.10 The Board considers the representations and, if appropriate, changes the report; representations are not included in the report.

4.11 The Board's response to the representations are sent to the DRs in writing, along with a copy of the final report.

4.12 DR representations and identities are privileged under section 24 of the CTAISB Act. Except for those made by a minister, representations cannot be released without the consent of the DR.

Time allowed for representations

4.13 DRs are given the following number of days to submit their representations:

Occurrence classification Type of investigation report Number of days
Class 1 Safety issue investigation 60
Class 2 Complex investigation 45
Class 3 Detailed investigation 30
Class 4 Limited-scope investigation 15

4.14 DRs may request an extension beyond the stipulated response date if they need more time to review the CDR and submit their representations to the Board. The submission period for class 4 limited-scope investigation reports may be extended by a maximum of 7 days. For other classes of investigation reports, the submission period may be extended by a maximum of 30 days.

4.15 Requests for an extension must be submitted in writing, include bona fide reasons for the extension, and specify the amount of extra time requested.

4.16 Approval of extensions for DR representations may be authorized in the following circumstances:

4.17 After the specific circumstances have been considered, the extension may be approved as requested, or for a shorter period. A response will be provided whether the extension is approved or denied.

Further consultations after consideration of representations

4.18 After considering representations, the Board may conclude that substantive amendments to its investigation report or findings are required. Depending on the nature and extent of the changes, the Board has discretion to provide an opportunity for further representations.

4.19 Organizations or individuals who, in the opinion of the Board, would be affected by the changes to the CDR can then be given the amended CDR, in whole or in part. These organizations or individuals may be all or some of the original DRs.

4.20 There may also be other persons who, because of the changes to the CDR, now become DRs per the Board’s policy.

4.21 The Board will determine the submission period for the second round of representations, based on the extent and complexity of the changes made to the CDR.

5. Authorities

5.1 This policy is issued under the authority of the Board in accordance with subsections 8(1)(b), 8(1)(c) and 24(4) of the CTAISB Act. It was approved by the Board on June 20, 2018, and was last revised on March 10, 2021Footnote 1, after consultation with the Executive Committee.

5.2 This policy will be reviewed and may be updated in response to changes in government priorities or TSB strategic direction, but at least once every 5 years.

6. Roles and responsibilities

6.1 Board

The Board is responsible for approving

6.2 Chair

The Chair is responsible for initiating the periodic review and update of this policy by the Board.

The Chair is also responsible for granting extensions to DRs in accordance with this policy.

6.3 Chief operating officer

The chief operating officer (COO) is responsible for the overall implementation, monitoring and oversight of this policy, as well as for seeking interpretation and guidance from the Board from time to time.

The COO, as the Chair’s delegate, may approve extensions to the submission period for DRs’ representations on CDRs.

6.4 Directors of investigations

Each DOI is responsible for ensuring that investigators adhere to this policy.

The DOI is also responsible for recommending

For a class 4 limited-scope investigation, the DOI may be delegated by the Board to

6.5 Investigator-in-charge

The IIC is responsible for proposing a list of organizations and individuals who could be invited to be DRs.

7. References

7.1 The following acts, regulations and international conventions apply:

8. Enquiries

8.1 Questions about this policy may be addressed to:

General enquiries
1-800-387-3557
1-819-994-3741
communications@bst-tsb.gc.ca