Ottawa introduces MVTA reforms

TORONTO (March 26) — Transport Minister David Collenette introduced amendments to Canada’s Motor Vehicle Transport Act in the House of Commons yesterday in an effort to exert more federal control over how provinces administer and enforce motor carrier safety rules.

The projected start-up for the new federal regime is September 2000. The amendments would also eliminate barriers to competition in the bus industry.

“These amendments establish carrier safety as the primary focus of the federal regulation of motor carriers, and create the tools for ensuring national consistency in safety performance regulation,” said Collenette.

For truckers, the amendments would create a national framework for a provincially run regulatory system focused on their safety performance as outlined in National Safety Code (NSC) Standard 14.

The amendments to the MVTA would allow provinces and territories whose safety compliance regimes are compatible with the NSC standards to give an extra-provincial carrier a safety rating and safety fitness certificate. A carrier would need such a certificate in order to travel outside of its home jurisdiction, so long as the carrier maintains a satisfactory, satisfactory-unaudited, or conditional rating.

The amendments would also allow a province or territory, under the authority of the Act, to sanction extra-provincial carriers for poor safety performance, including downgrading their ratings and revoking their safety fitness certificates and, thus, their right to operate.

In addition, Collenette said, the amendments would allow Canada to enter into arrangements with other countries for reciprocal recognition of ratings and standards.

Trucking industry groups have been urging Ottawa to exert greater control over safety regulations, authority Ottawa has delegated to the provinces since 1954.