3. Branches

3.1 Office of the Chair and CEO (OCC)

The roles of the Chair and CEO's Office are like those played by corporate secretariats and Deputy Ministers' Offices in other departments and agencies. The office contributes to the systematic management of the CTA's priorities, promotes an organizational environment focused on achieving results, and puts in place the essential conditions for effective strategic direction. Additionally, the CTA’s communications teams, including Media Relations and Issues Management (MRIM) and Corporate Communications and Web Services (CCWS), report through the Office of the Chair and CEO.

Roles and responsibilities of Executive Office – Sébastien Bergeron, Chief of Staff & Senior Director, Communications

• Chair's Office
  • Provides strategic advice to the Chair and CEO
  • Integrates input from across the CTA for non-case-specific briefing notes and correspondence for the Chair and CEO's signature
  • Assists in managing the CTA’s governance structure, including performing secretariat functions
  • Collaborates internally and with other government departments
• Communications Directorate
  • Media Relations & Issues Management (MRIM) - Vincent Turgeon
    • Delivers high-quality, well-planned strategic communications and outreach activities to support the CTA
    • Communications Advice, Planning and Coordination
    • Media Issues Management
    • Oversight & intragovernmental coordination
  • Corporate Communications & Web Services – Judy Deland
    • Corporate Publications
    • Manages the CTA's brand and develop visual identities for public programs and services
    • Publishes and maintains the CTA website in collaboration with subject matter experts
    • Leads the implementation of accessibility requirements for web and traditional publishing

3.2 Dispute Resolution Branch (DRB) – Ruth Dagenais

Also known as the Air Transport Complaints Resolution Office (ATCRO), the Dispute Resolution Branch (DRB) consists of three directorates:

• Resolution
• Quality Management
• Innovation and Strategic Support

Resolution - Paul Kelly

• Administers the air travel complaint resolution process, including:
  • File assignment to resolution officers
  • File processing
  • Performance monitoring and reporting

Quality Management - Dany Ross

• Administers and supports functions for the ATCRO including:
  • Quality assessments
  • Consistent interpretation of regulations through operational guidance
  • Training

Innovation and Strategic Support - David Svab

• Administers and supports business innovation and system improvement functions for the ATCRO, including:
  • Digital dispute processes and AI transformation initiatives within ATCRO
  • Planning, integration, and oversight of branch digital projects
  • Program data analysis and reporting

3.3 Determinations and Compliance Branch (DCB) – Pascale Prince

The Determinations and Compliance Branch (DCB) issues determinations and authorities pursuant to legislation and regulations and completes monitoring, and compliance and enforcement functions. It consists of three directorates:

• Air Determinations Directorate
• Rail and Marine Determinations Directorate
• Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Directorate

Air Determinations Directorate – Tara Preston

• Facilitates timely issuance of domestic and international air licences, charter permits, wet leases, and extra-bilateral air transport authorities;
• Monitors compliance with the Canadian ownership and control in fact requirement for domestic operators;
• Oversees a tariff regime for domestic and international air services;
• Represents the CTA's internationally in a variety of venues/fora (e.g., Canada's international bilateral air agreement negotiation team, ICAO's Facilitation Panel).

Rail and Marine Determinations Directorate – Luc Chamberland

Oversees rail and marine programs, providing recommendations to statutory and regulatory authorities on matters such as:

• Determining whether a railway company is federally regulated;
• Insurance requirements;
• Railway construction projects; and
• Coasting trade.

Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Directorate – Marc Thomson

Ensures compliance by regulated parties with the applicable acts, regulations, orders, and authorizations, and serves the public interest by resolving non-compliance through:

• Application of a graduated enforcement approach, using informal and formal measures;
• Proactively monitoring, verifying, and enforcing compliance through risk-based and data-informed planned activities;
• Responding to incidents and emerging situations/events; and
• Following up to ensure compliance is achieved and maintained.

3.4 Analysis and Outreach Branch (AOB) – Lawrence Chow

The Analysis and Outreach Branch (AOB) has a broad strategic focus and provides expertise to other branches on relevant files and collaborates with other expert areas within the CTA as needed. It consists of two directorates:

• Analysis and Regulatory Affairs Directorate (ARAD)
• Centre of Expertise for Accessible Transportation Directorate (CEAT)

Analysis and Regulatory Affairs Directorate (ARAD) - Allan Burnside

ARAD provides strategic, policy, regulatory, economic and freight rail-related advice and expertise in support of Members (when making decisions/determinations), as well as the Chair and CEO and the CTA’s Executive Committee in their ongoing functions. This includes:

• Legislative analyses/input and submissions to Treasury Board
• Coordinating corporate/compliance reports and providing horizontal support and coordination for CTA Management Boards
• Applies rail costing methodologies for various determinations and analyses, including:
  • Maximum Revenue Entitlement (MRE)
  • Regulated interswitching rates
  • Volume-related composite price index (VRCPI)
  • Costs for public passenger service providers
• Regulatory reviews, development and cost-benefit analyses

Centre of Expertise for Accessible Transportation Directorate (CEAT) - Sonia Gangopadhyay

CEAT works to enhance the accessibility of the federal transportation system on all modes by developing regulations and supporting materials through engagement, outreach, research and analysis. This includes:

• Administering and supporting the functioning of the CTA’s Accessibility Advisory Committee
• Developing relationships with key players of the federal transportation system (industry representative, persons with disabilities, indigenous organizations/communities), other governments/jurisdictions
• Developing guidance and best practices for persons with disabilities and industry to ensure compliance with regulations and codes of practice
• Advice and guidance to support
  • Resolution of disputes
  • Compliance and enforcement
  • Development of tariff provisions

3.5 Legal Services and Secretariat Branch (LSSB) – Valérie Lagacé

The Legal and Secretariat Services Branch (LSSB) provides legal advice on all CTA issues, as well as on cases. It acts as general counsel and secretary to the CTA, providing support for the development of procedures, regulations, registrar and secretariat services, and translation services. It consists of three directorates:

• Legal Services Directorate (LSD)
• Secretariat and Registrar Services Directorate (SRSD)
• Dispute Adjudications Directorate (DAD)

Legal Services Directorate (LSD) - Shelley Cruise & Simon-Pierre Lessard

Provides advisory, litigation, and hearing registrar services to the CTA, including:

• Legal Services, such as:
  • Advice and opinions on CTA decisions, determinations, arbitrations, legislations, regulations, procedures, publications and guidance materials; and
  • Representing the CTA in all appeals, other tribunals and court proceedings
• Paralegal Services, such as:
  • Conducting legal research; and
  • Providing coordination and support oral hearing logistics

Secretariat and Registrar Services Directorate (SRSD) - Patrice Bellerose

Oversees the CTA’s registrar, secretariat, and linguistic functions, including:

• Issuing Decisions and Orders
• Registry Services, such as
  • Acting as “one-entry” for adjudication proceedings; and
  • Official record-keeping for tribunal submissions and rulings (decisions/determinations, orders, interim decisions and permits)
• Linguistic Services (e.g., Terminology lexicon for translation of CTA documents, revising documents in both official languages)

Dispute Adjudications Directorate (DAD) - Heath Larivere

Supports the resolution of disputes across federally regulated transportation sectors, particularly in rail and accessible transportation, through:

• Facilitation;
• Mediation; and
• Adjudication (and specific arbitration services).

3.6 Internal Services Branch (ISB) – Nadia Della Valle

The Internal Services Branch (ISB) is responsible for finance, cost recovery, procurement and contracting, physical security, human resources, integrated management, information technology services, and information management services. It consists of 4 directorates:

• Financial Services and Asset Management Directorate
• Workforce and Workplace Services Directorate
• Information Technology and Information Management Directorate
• Corporate Projects Directorate

Financial Services and Asset Management Directorate - Sandrine Chevrier

Ensures the responsible and efficient stewardship of financial resources, including:

• Internal Control and Financial Reporting, such as:
  • Corporate Financial Reporting
  • Accounting Operations & Financial Systems
  • Financial Policy
  • Internal Controls
• Procurement
• Planning and Financial Management (including forecasting)

Workforce and Workplace Services Directorate - Nadine Brisson

• Ensures the development and management of human resources (HR), facilities and security activities in a manner that aligns with the organization's strategic goals
• Fosters a positive work culture and supports the well-being and professional growth of employees
• Develops and maintains HR policies and procedures that are clear, consistent, ensure compliance with legal requirements and alignment with best practices

Information Management and Technology Services Directorate - Antoine Chevrette

Oversees the CTA’s Information technology services, Information Management services, Data Strategy and Operational services, including:

• IT Planning and Business Solutions (e.g., application development & support, IT projects & portfolio management)
• IT Security (e.g., IT risk management, threat analysis and strategic advice)
• Information & Data Management (e.g., records and IM systems management, data governance, data science community of practice)
• Operational Services (e.g., desktop support and help desk service and training)

Corporate Projects Directorate - Pierre Dubé

Oversees the CTA’s:

• Cost recovery regime
• Integrated management cycle
• Corporate Risk Profile