Standing Committee on Public Accounts

Comité permanent des comptes publics

For immediate release

Ottawa, March 18, 2013 -

OTTAWA – While Canada compares favourably with many other countries in its aviation safety record, Transport Canada needs to ensure that it adequately manages risks to its civil aviation program in order to maintain public confidence in aviation safety, according to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts’ report presented today in the House of Commons by Committee Chair David Christopherson.

In April 2012, the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) released a performance audit that examined whether Transport Canada managed the risks associated with overseeing its civil aviation safety program. The OAG concluded that Transport Canada had implemented a suitable regulatory framework; however, the OAG found significant weaknesses in how the department plans, conducts, and reports on its surveillance activities.

In its report, the Committee notes that Transport Canada has developed a detailed action plan to address the weaknesses identified by the OAG. As the Committee intends to monitor Transport Canada’s progress in implementing its action plan, it recommends that Transport Canada provide an update by March 31, 2013. The Committee also wants to ensure that the department identifies the number of resources needed to plan and conduct inspections, and recommends that Transport Canada provide its updated human resources plan by June 20, 2013.

The Committee points out that Canada has one of the safest aviation systems in the world. As air traffic volume is increasing, it is vital that the government continues to maintain an extremely high level of safety standards in the aviation industry. To this end, Transport Canada needs to be diligent in its oversight of the safety systems of aviation companies.