Chair says issues remain in regulation of fishing in the North
Canada’s Transportation Safety Board (TSB) released its annual assessment of transportation safety recommendations, reporting 84% of all issued recommendations achieve the “Fully Satisfactory” rating — a clear indication of progress in addressing safety deficiencies across the air, marine, rail, and pipeline sectors. However, ongoing challenges persist, particularly in occupational health and safety oversight for Canada’s northern fishing industries.
“We’re proud to see the vast majority of safety recommendations addressed,” says Yoan Marier, chair of the TSB. “Out of the 630 recommendations we’ve issued over the last 35 years, 84% are closed as Fully Satisfactory.” In the 2024–25 assessment, the TSB reviewed 66 recommendations and rates nine new ones as Fully Satisfactory.
By the numbers
As of March 31, 2025, 81 recommendations remain outstanding — three more than the 78 reviewed this cycle. In the air sector, only one of 28 assessed recommendations (A17-02) achieves a Fully Satisfactory rating, marking progress on substance abuse prevention programs in aviation.
The marine sector sees stronger movement: out of 28 assessments, seven recommendations reach the Fully Satisfactory mark, driven by the new Marine Safety Management System Regulations. “These new regulations require vessels to have comprehensive safety management systems, which helps us close longstanding recommendations,” Marier explains.
In the rail sector, just one of 10 assessed recommendations earns the Fully Satisfactory rating — R20-01, which targets measures to prevent uncontrolled train movements during switching without air. “Transport Canada strengthens oversight and introduces new speed restrictions, leading to fewer occurrences,” Marier says.
The pipeline transportation sector sees no new recommendations to assess this year, as all past pipeline safety recommendations remain closed as Fully Satisfactory.
Ongoing occupational health and safety concerns
Despite these overall gains, Marier underscores some outstanding recommendations that address urgent occupational health and safety gaps — particularly in Canada’s northern fishing industries. “One that has a direct connection with occupational health and safety is M23-09,” Marier says. This recommendation urges coordination between Transport Canada, the federal Department of Employment, and the territories to ensure proper oversight of fishing activities, noting that no agency currently covers occupational health and safety on board vessels in the territories.
“All we’re asking for is for these people to talk to each other and make sure that it’s covered,” Marier says. “So far, the responses we receive aren’t encouraging.”
Marier also points to slow progress on recommendations like A16-12, which seeks mandatory safety management systems for all commercial air operators, and R22-04, which asks for fail-safe train control systems that intervene when crews miss signal indications.
Commitment to improvement
Despite these ongoing challenges, Marier emphasizes the TSB actively monitors and drives change. “This reassessment process is something we do every year to make sure safety deficiencies aren’t forgotten about,” he says. “It’s a process that ensures risks are mitigated, even if it takes time.”
The TSB, as an independent agency, continues to push for safety enhancements across Canada’s transportation network, committed to preventing future tragedies and protecting those working in the sector.
