National transportation system

The Canadian Transportation Agency keeps the national transportation system running efficiently and smoothly in the interests of all Canadians – those who work and invest in it, the producers, shippers, travellers and businesses who rely on it, and the communities where it operates – and the prosperity and social fabric of the country as a whole.

Broadly speaking, to implement this mandate, we:

  • administer regulations and issues determinations;
  • help resolve disputes using a range of approaches from relatively informal facilitation and mediation to more formal arbitration and adjudication;
  • provide information and guidance about the rights and responsibilities of transportation providers and users, and the Agency's legislation and services.

To learn more, please visit the organization and mandate page.

Air

We support the air system by making and enforcing rules for airlines and offering services. We make air regulations and consult the air industry, the Canadian public and consumer organizations about this work.

Rail

We support the rail system by licensing federal railway companies, as well as making and enforcing regulations for railways. Our regulations tell railways what services they must provide to customers (shippers).

Marine

The Canadian Transportation Agency acts as an economic regulator for certain marine activities. The Agency is responsible for determining if Canadian ships are suitable and available to operate commercial services in Canadian waters, which may otherwise be provided by foreign or non duty-paid ships upon request by a resident of Canada.
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