Transport Canada

Transport Canada is a department of the Government of Canada, responsible for developing and overseeing the nation's transportation policies and programs. Its core mission is to serve the public interest by promoting a safe, secure, efficient, and environmentally responsible transportation system across Canada. Headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, Transport Canada operates as a federal institution, leading the Transport Canada portfolio.

The department's responsibilities span various modes of transportation, including aviation, rail, marine, and road. Key services involve proposing and updating legislative and regulatory frameworks, conducting inspections, enforcement activities, and surveillance of the transportation industry, and providing funding for projects that strengthen the transportation network. This includes areas such as aircraft registration, drone safety, flight crew licensing, marine safety, railway safety, and motor vehicle safety standards.

The Honourable Steven MacKinnon currently serves as the Minister of Transport, having assumed the role on September 16, 2025. Recent activities include the Minister's announcement of new leadership appointments for VIA Rail and the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) in October 2026, and an expanded air transport agreement with Côte d'Ivoire. The department also celebrated the opening of Canadian North's new cargo facility at Ottawa International Airport and announced a collaboration with Alberta on high-speed rail in October and September 2026, respectively. In July 2026, the Canadian Transportation Agency, an independent regulator within the portfolio, approved the Lac-Mégantic railway bypass project.