1 This Act may be cited as the Railway Safety Act .
Marginal note: Binding on Her Majesty
Marginal note: Objectives
3 The objectives of this Act are to
Marginal note: Minister’s responsibilities respecting railway safety
3.1 The Minister is responsible for the development and regulation of matters to which this Act applies, including safety and security, and for the supervision of all matters connected with railways and, in the discharge of those responsibilities, the Minister may, among other things,
Marginal note: Definitions
but does not include a crossing work; ( ligne de chemin de fer )
means a person, other than a railway company or an agent or mandatary of a railway company, that operates railway equipment on a railway; ( compagnie de chemin de fer locale )
means the Minister of Transport; ( ministre )
includes a government of a municipality and a road authority; ( personne )
means prescribed by regulations; ( Version anglaise seulement )
, in relation to a railway work, means the person who proposes, or has proposed, the construction or alteration of the railway work, whether voluntarily or because of a requirement imposed under another Act or by an order made under section 32.01; ( promoteur )
[Repealed, 1999, c. 9, s. 2]
means a railway within the legislative authority of Parliament and includes
means a person that constructs, operates or maintains a railway; ( compagnie de chemin de fer )
means a line work or any part thereof, a crossing work or any part thereof, or any combination of the foregoing; ( installations ferroviaires )
, in relation to a railway company, means an association or organization that has been formed to represent the interests of
and that is declared by order of the Minister to be a relevant association or organization in relation to that railway company; ( organisation intéressée )
means an area that is established under the regulations or a security document and to which access is restricted to authorized persons; ( zone réglementée )
means any way or course, whether public or not, available for vehicular or pedestrian use; ( route )
means a public authority having legal authority to open and maintain roads; ( autorité responsable du service de voirie )
means that part of a road that passes across, over or under a line of railway, and includes any structure supporting or protecting that part of that road or facilitating the crossing; ( franchissement routier )
means a formal framework for integrating safety into day-to-day railway operations and includes safety goals and performance targets, risk assessments, responsibilities and authorities, rules and procedures, and monitoring and evaluation processes; ( système de gestion de la sécurité )
means a person designated by the Minister under subsection 27(1) as a screening officer for the purposes of this Act; ( agent de contrôle )
means any of the following documents:
means the Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada established by subsection 2(1) of the Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada Act ; ( Tribunal )
means that part of a utility line that passes over or under a line of railway, and includes any structure supporting or protecting that part of that utility line or facilitating the crossing; ( franchissement par desserte )
means any wire, cable, pipeline or other like means of enabling the transmission of goods or energy or the provision of services. ( desserte )
Marginal note: Inconsistencies with operating agreements
4.1 This Act and all regulations, rules, certificates, orders, exemptions and emergency directives made or issued under this Act prevail over the provisions of any agreement or order that enables a company to operate railway equipment on the railway of a railway company in the event of an inconsistency between them.
5 If a person proposes to construct or alter a railway work in, on, over, under, through or across any navigable water as defined in section 2 of the Canadian Navigable Waters Act , the requirements imposed by or under this Act apply in addition to, and not in substitution for, the requirements imposed by or under the Canadian Navigable Waters Act .
Marginal note: Agreements between Department and Agency
6 The Minister may enter into an agreement with the Agency providing for the following matters and may, in consultation with the Agency, take any action that is necessary to ensure that the terms of the agreement are disclosed to any railway company or other person likely to be affected by it:
Marginal note: Agreements with provincial ministers
Marginal note: Agreements with provincial authorities
6.2 The Minister may enter into an agreement with a provincial authority to authorize the provincial authority to regulate the matters referred to in subsection 6.1(1) in relation to a railway in the same manner and to the same extent as it may regulate a railway within the authority’s jurisdiction.
Marginal note: Regulations
Marginal note: Regulations
7.1 The Governor in Council may make regulations regulating or prohibiting the construction or alteration of road crossings.
Marginal note: Notice of certain proposed railway works
Marginal note: Frivolous or vexatious objections
Marginal note: Railway works for which Ministerial approval required
the proponent shall not undertake that work otherwise than in accordance with the terms of the Minister’s approval given under this section pursuant to a written request, filed with the Minister, for such approval.
Marginal note: Sound engineering principles
Marginal note: Grants relating to crossings at grade
and that crossing has been in existence for public use for at least three years, the proponent may file an application with the Minister for a grant in respect of that proposed railway work.
Marginal note: Agreements for closing road crossings
Marginal note: Grants for construction or alteration of grade separations
Marginal note: Grants for programs, studies, projects and works
is likely to promote, or make a contribution to, safe railway operations, the Minister may authorize the making of a grant for the purpose of defraying the whole or part of the cost of undertaking that program, study, project or work.
Marginal note: Appropriation for grants
15 Grants authorized under section 12, 12.1, 13 or 14 shall be paid out of money appropriated by Parliament for that purpose.
Marginal note: Reference to Agency
Marginal note: Minister may simultaneously consider requests for grant and for section 10 approval
Marginal note: Requirement for certificate
Marginal note: Compliance with certificate, regulations and rules
17.2 No railway company shall operate or maintain a railway, including any railway work or railway equipment, and no local railway company shall operate railway equipment on a railway, otherwise than in accordance with a railway operating certificate and — except to the extent that the company is exempt from their application under section 22 or 22.1 — with the regulations and the rules made under sections 19 and 20 that apply to the company.
Marginal note: Compliance with engineering standards
17.21 No railway company shall construct or alter a railway work otherwise than in accordance with the engineering standards that apply in respect of the railway company, except to the extent that the railway company is exempt from their application under section 22.1.
Marginal note: Crossing works
17.3 No person responsible for the maintenance of a crossing work shall maintain it otherwise than in accordance with the regulations made under section 18 unless that person is exempted under section 22 or 22.1 from the application of those regulations in relation to the maintenance of that crossing work.
Marginal note: Recording instruments
Marginal note: Issuance of certificate
Marginal note: Notice of decision
Marginal note: Request for review
Marginal note: Time and place for review
Marginal note: Right of appeal
Marginal note: Regulations
Marginal note: Companies — use of information
Marginal note: Minister — use of information
Marginal note: Railway safety inspectors — use of information
Marginal note: Recorded information admissible
Marginal note: Regulations
Marginal note: For greater certainty
17.96 For greater certainty, subject to any use or communication that is expressly authorized under any of sections 17.91 to 17.94, subsection 28(1.1) or 36(2) or regulations made under section 17.95, the information that a company records, collects or preserves under subsection 17.31(1) and that is an , as defined in subsection 28(1) of the Canadian Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board Act , remains privileged under subsection 28(2) of that Act.
Marginal note: Regulations
Marginal note: Formulation or revision of rules
Marginal note: Formulation or revision of rules
Marginal note: Third party
20.1 A third party may act for and on behalf of a company in all matters relating to the formulation or revision of standards or rules under sections 7, 19 and 20.
Marginal note: Regulations — formulation of rules
Marginal note: Uniformity of rules
21 In establishing, under section 19 or 20, rules applying to a particular company or in deciding, under section 19 or 20, whether to approve rules formulated or revised by, and applying to, a particular company, the Minister shall, to the extent that it is, in the opinion of the Minister, reasonable and practicable to do so, ensure that those rules are uniform with rules dealing with a like matter and applying to other companies.
Marginal note: Exemption by order in council
a reasonable opportunity during a period of sixty days to consult with it, except that it may apply for the exemption before the end of those sixty days if it has received comments from all those associations and organizations or from that railway company, as the case may be.
Marginal note: Other exemptions
Marginal note: Application to Agency
Marginal note: Use of whistles
Marginal note: Regulations
of buildings and other structures, not being railway works, erected or proposed to be erected above or below a line of railway, or on land adjoining the land on which the line is situated, to the extent only that is necessary to prevent those buildings or structures from constituting a threat to safe railway operations;
on land adjoining the land on which a line of railway is situated, of drainage systems that would constitute a threat to safe railway operations;
Marginal note: Entry onto land adjoining line of railway
Marginal note: Reference to Agency
Marginal note: No access to line works
26.1 No person shall, without lawful excuse, enter on land on which a line work is situated.
Marginal note: Road users to give way
26.2 The users of a road shall give way to railway equipment at a road crossing if adequate warning of its approach is given.
Marginal note: Designation
Marginal note: Refusal to designate etc.
Marginal note: Notice
Marginal note: Request for review
Marginal note: Time and place for review
Marginal note: Right of appeal
Marginal note: Decision to remain in effect pending reconsideration
27.6 If a matter is referred back to the Minister for reconsideration under paragraph 27.4(4)(a) or 27.5(3)(a), the decision of the Minister under subsection 27.1(1) or (3) to suspend or cancel a designation remains in effect until the reconsideration is completed. However, the member who made the determination or the appeal panel, after considering any representations made by the parties, may grant a stay of a decision under subsection 27.1(1) to suspend or cancel a designation until the reconsideration is completed, if the member or panel is satisfied that granting a stay would not constitute a threat to railway security.
Marginal note: Reconsideration
27.8 For the purposes of sections 27.1 to 27.7, includes any privilege accorded by a designation.
Marginal note: Inspector’s powers
Marginal note: Seized property to be returned
whichever first occurs, unless before that time proceedings are instituted in respect of an offence under this Act in relation to the property seized, in which case it may be detained until the proceedings are finally concluded.
the court may grant the application and order the return of the property forthwith to the applicant, subject to any terms and conditions that appear necessary or desirable to ensure that the property is safeguarded and preserved for any purpose for which it may subsequently be required.
Marginal note: Assistance to inspectors
Marginal note: Notice — threat
Marginal note: Request for review of order of railway safety inspector
Marginal note: Right of appeal
Marginal note: No stay of order
31.3 An order of a railway safety inspector shall not be stayed pending a review under section 31.1, an appeal under section 31.2 or consideration by the Minister under subsection 31.1(4) or 31.2(3).
Marginal note: Consideration by Minister
31.4 If a matter is referred to the Minister under subsection 31.1(4) or 31.2(3), or if the Minister on his or her own initiative decides to review an order of a railway safety inspector, the Minister may confirm the order, or may, by order, alter or revoke the order of the railway safety inspector. For greater certainty, the Minister’s order may be made an order of the Federal Court or of any superior court under section 34.
Marginal note: When alteration or revocation effective
31.5 An alteration or revocation under section 31.4 has effect when the company or other person to whom notice of the order under section 31 was sent receives notice of the alteration or revocation.
Marginal note: Orders concerning unauthorized or improperly maintained works
the Minister may
Marginal note: Order — safe railway operations
32.01 If the Minister considers it necessary in the interests of safe railway operations, the Minister may, by order sent to a company, road authority or municipality, require the company, road authority or municipality to stop any activity that might constitute a threat to safe railway operations or to follow the procedures or take the corrective measures specified in the order, including constructing, altering, operating or maintaining a railway work.
Marginal note: Request for review
Marginal note: Right of appeal
Marginal note: Stay of order
32.3 If a request for review is filed, an order made under subsection 32(1), (3.1) or (3.2) shall be stayed until the matter is finally disposed of in accordance with section 32.1, 32.2 or 32.4. However, an order made under subsection 32(3) or (3.21) or section 32.01 shall not be stayed pending a review under section 32.1, an appeal under section 32.2 or a reconsideration by the Minister under subsection 32.1(5) or 32.2(3).
Marginal note: Reconsideration by Minister
32.4 If a matter is referred back to the Minister under subsection 32.1(5) or 32.2(3), the Minister may confirm the order, or may, by order, alter or revoke the order. For greater certainty, the Minister’s order may be made an order of the Federal Court or of any superior court under section 34.
Marginal note: When alteration or revocation effective
32.5 An alteration or revocation under section 32.4 has effect when the company or other person to whom notice of the order under section 32 was sent receives notice of the alteration or revocation.
Marginal note: Minister may send emergency directives
Marginal note: Enforcement through court
Marginal note: Medical examination
and the patient is deemed to have consented to the disclosure required by paragraph (a).
Marginal note: Power to require information
Marginal note: Maintenance and production of safety records
Marginal note: False information, etc.
38 No person shall, either orally or in writing, knowingly make a false or misleading statement or knowingly provide false or misleading information to the Minister, to a railway safety inspector or to any other person acting on behalf of the Minister in connection with any matter under this Act.
Marginal note: Screening before boarding
Marginal note: Minister may formulate security measures
Marginal note: Disclosure of security documents
Marginal note: Inquiry
raises, or may raise, issues of public interest relating to safe railway operations, the Minister may, by order, direct persons designated by the Minister for the purpose to conduct an inquiry into the matter in accordance with any regulations made pursuant to section 47, subject to the Canadian Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board Act , and report the findings of the inquiry to the Minister in such manner and within such period as the Minister directs.
40.1 The Governor in Council may, by regulation,
Marginal note: Designation of enforcement officers
Marginal note: Notices of violation
40.12 The Minister may establish the form and content of notices of violation.
Marginal note: Violation
Marginal note: Issuance of notice of violation
40.14 When a person designated by the Minister under subsection 40.11(1) believes on reasonable grounds that a person has committed a violation, he or she may issue and serve on the person a notice of violation that names the person, identifies the violation and sets out
Marginal note: Payment of specified amount precludes further proceedings
40.15 If a person served with a notice of violation pays the amount specified in the notice in accordance with the particulars set out in the notice, the Minister shall accept the amount as and in complete satisfaction of the amount of the penalty for the contravention and no further proceedings under this Act shall be taken against the person in respect of that contravention.
Marginal note: Request for review of determination
Marginal note: Failure to pay
40.17 A person that fails to pay the amount of the penalty specified in a notice of violation within the specified time and that does not file a request for a review is deemed to have committed the contravention alleged in the notice.
Marginal note: Determination by Tribunal member
40.18 At the conclusion of a review, the member of the Tribunal who conducts the review shall without delay inform the Minister and the person alleged to have committed a violation
Marginal note: Right of appeal
Marginal note: Certificate
40.2 The Minister may obtain from the Tribunal or the member, as the case may be, a certificate in the form established by the Governor in Council setting out the amount of the penalty required to be paid by a person who fails, within the time required,
Marginal note: Registration of certificate
Marginal note: Time limit for proceedings
40.22 Proceedings in respect of a violation may not be instituted later than 12 months after the time when the subject matter of the proceedings arose.
Marginal note: Contravention of provision of Act
Marginal note: Offence by employee or agent
42 In any prosecution for an offence under this Act, it is sufficient proof of the offence to establish that it was committed by an employee or agent of the accused, whether or not the employee or agent has been prosecuted for the offence, unless the accused establishes that the offence was committed without the knowledge or consent of the accused and that the accused exercised all due diligence to prevent its commission.
Marginal note: Officers, etc., of corporation
43 Where a corporation commits an offence under this Act, any officer, director or agent of the corporation who directed, authorized, assented to, acquiesced in or participated in the commission of the offence is a party to and guilty of the offence, and is liable on conviction to the punishment provided for the offence, whether or not the corporation has been prosecuted or convicted.
Marginal note: Appointment
Marginal note: Procedures for dealing with complaints
Marginal note: Exercise of powers
45 The Minister may, in writing, authorize any person designated by the Minister to exercise any of the Minister’s powers and duties under this Act, either generally or as otherwise provided in the instrument of authorization.
Marginal note: Ministerial orders, etc., not statutory instruments
46 The following are not statutory instruments for the purposes of the Statutory Instruments Act :
Marginal note: Regulations
47 Except with respect to any matter that is to be prescribed under this Act by regulations of the Agency, the Governor in Council may make regulations prescribing anything that by this Act is to be prescribed, and generally for carrying out the purposes and provisions of this Act, and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, may make regulations
Marginal note: Regulations — safety management systems
Marginal note: Ministerial regulations — fees and charges
Marginal note: Review by House of Commons committee
Marginal note: Agreement — cost recovery
Marginal note: Incorporation by reference
48 A regulation made under this Act incorporating by reference a classification, standard, procedure or other specification may incorporate the classification, standard, procedure or specification as amended from time to time.
Marginal note: Safety regulations prevail
49 A regulation made under subsection 7(1) or section 7.1, 18, 24, 37, 47 or 47.1, or a rule in force under section 19 or 20, prevails over an order, rule or regulation made under any other Act of Parliament to the extent of any inconsistency between them.
50 [Repealed, 2014, c. 20, s. 231]
Marginal note: Statutory review
52 [Amendment]
53 and 54 [Amendments]
55 to 62 [Amendments]
63 to 65 [Amendments]
66 to 114 [Amendments]
115 to 118 [Amendments]
Marginal note: Regulations and orders of general application
continues to have effect as if it were a regulation made by the Governor in Council under this Act until it is revoked by an order of the Governor in Council under subsection (5).
continues to have effect as if it were an order made by the Minister under this Act, until it is revoked by an order of the Minister under subsection (5).
Marginal note: Balance of Part II appropriation
121 [Repealed, 1996, c. 10, s. 268]
Marginal note: Coming into force
Footnote * 122 This Act or any provision thereof shall come into force on a day or days to be fixed by order of the Governor in Council.
Return to footnote * [Note: Sections 1, 3, 4, 7 and 8, subsection 11(2), sections 18 and 19, subsection 24(1) and sections 36, 37, 45 to 48 and 50 in force October 8, 1988, see SI/88-202; sections 2, 5, 6, 9 and 10, subsections 11(1) and (3), sections 12 to 17, 20 to 23, subsection 24(2) and sections 25 to 35, 38 to 44, 49, 51 to 90, 92 and 94 to 121 in force January 1, 1989, see SI/88-244; sections 91 and 93 in force October 1, 1995, see SI/95-109.]