News release

Today, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) released its annual assessment of responses to 66 outstanding recommendations in the air, marine, and rail transportation sectors, highlighting ongoing efforts to address safety deficiencies and drive change in the transportation system.

The TSB issues safety recommendations as a call to industry and regulators to address systemic issues that pose significant risks to Canada’s transportation system. Each year, the TSB assesses progress on outstanding recommendations to prompt meaningful action on the safety issues identified in TSB investigations.

This year’s assessments by the Board bring the total percentage of responses to TSB recommendations rated as Fully Satisfactory to 84%, with the responses to nine recommendations receiving this highest rating, seven of which come from the marine transportation sector, one from the air transportation sector and one from the rail transportation sector. At March 31, 2025, 81 recommendations remain outstanding, including three new marine recommendations issued in the 2024–25 fiscal year.

Responses to recommendations are assessed based on the extent to which the underlying safety deficiency has been or is being addressed. For more details, see the Board’s Assessment rating guide.

Air transportation sector

Of the 28 responses to air transportation safety recommendations that the Board assessed in 2024–25, one was assessed as Fully Satisfactory, and the associated recommendation (A17-02) was closed.

The recommendation A17-02 called for Transport Canada, in collaboration with the Canadian aviation industry, to develop and implement requirements for a comprehensive substance abuse program, following its investigation into a fatal in-flight breakup (A15P0081) that determined alcohol intoxication was a factor in the occurrence. The Board is pleased with Transport Canada’s efforts to reduce the risk of impairment of persons while engaged in safety-sensitive functions.

Marine transportation sector

The Board assessed the progress of 28 marine transportation safety recommendations in 2024–25, and seven were closed as Fully Satisfactory (M04-01, M17-01, M17-02, M17-04, M23-03, M23-04, M23-05).

The Board issued recommendations M17-01 and M17-02 calling for Transport Canada to ensure the adoption of practical risk mitigation strategies and comprehensive guidelines to improve passenger vessel safety measures following its investigation M15P0347 into the capsizing of the passenger vessel Leviathan II. In July 2024, the two recommendations were closed as Fully Satisfactory as the Board believes that Transport Canada’s actions, namely the publication of the new Marine Safety Management System Regulations (MSMSR) in the Canada Gazette, Part II, that require vessels to develop and implement a safety management system, in conjunction with the requirements of the Navigation Safety Regulations, 2020, will substantially mitigate the underlying risks.

These changes implemented by Transport Canada also allowed the Board to close its Recommendation M04-01 as Fully Satisfactory, which was issued following the investigation M02C0030 into the striking and loss of life involving the amphibious passenger vehicle Lady Duck. The recommendation called for steps to ensure that small passenger vessel enterprises have a safety management system. The Board determined that, with the introduction of the new MSMSR, Transport Canada has taken steps to meet this requirement.

Rail transportation sector

Of the 10 responses to rail transportation safety recommendations the Board assessed in 2024–25, one was closed as Fully Satisfactory (R20-01).

Recommendation R20-01 was issued following investigation R17W0267 into an occurrence in which a foreman became pinned between two cars during an uncontrolled movement. Since 2020, Transport Canada has advanced a series of safety actions to strengthen the defences against uncontrolled movements while switching without air and there has been a corresponding overall decrease in the number of uncontrolled movements categorized as switching over this period.

Pipeline transportation sector

The Board did not issue any pipeline transportation safety recommendations in 2024–25, and all responses to safety recommendations were previously assessed as Fully Satisfactory.

The TSB remains dedicated to monitoring responses to its safety recommendations and engaging stakeholders to further mitigate safety deficiencies in Canada’s air, marine, pipeline, and rail transportation sectors. This ongoing commitment reflects the Board’s dedication to enhancing safety standards across all sectors.