Canadian Transport

: Written by Leisha Wray; Published: 13 November 2019; Last Updated: 27 September 2021; Hits: 9017

An image of the Canadian Rocky Mountains viewed from inside a train with a glass roof.

Since July 2019 new regulations came into place in Canada. The& Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) recognizes the right to equal access for persons with disabilities and have set up an accessibility complaints process.

The Act to Ensure a Barrier-Free Canada is set to improve accessibility by amendments to the Canada Transportation Act. The Act provides new tools to assist with the proactive identification, removal, and prevention of barriers to accessibility. Personnel Training, Removing Communication Barriers and Accessible design for self-service interactive devices are all standards that apply to all transportation providers.

Air Transport

All flights to, from and within Canada, including connecting flights have minimum regulations that airlines must provide to passengers. These regulations include the ‘right to an accessible federal transportation network’.

Trains

If you have chosen a rail journey, the primary rail companies of VIA Rail Canada Inc., Algoma Central Railway Inc., Quebec North Shore & Labrador Railway Company, Hudson Bay Railway Company and Amtrak passenger rail services operated by them within Canada; by Canadian National Railway Company services operating on behalf of Ontario Northland Railway are currently required to follow the regulations. Although other rail carriers that transport passengers within Canada are encouraged to implement its provisions. The regulations only apply to cars that may be used by the general public.

Ferries and Ferry Terminals

Have requirements based on numbers embarkation and disembarking and apply to passenger ferries that weigh in excess of 1,000 gross tonnes and travel between provinces or territories, or between Canada and the United States. Again, the regulations are for areas accessed by the general public.

Passenger Terminals

Design in built environments, elevator requirements, areas to rest, boarding bridges, relieving areas for service animals, passenger assistance, customer service, and considerations of security screening of passengers are all given implementation tips for passenger terminals.