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ARCHIVED - RPP 2007-2008
Transportation Safety Board of Canada


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Chair's Message

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) enjoys a solid reputation, nationally and internationally, as a technically skilled and professional investigative organization. As one of only a few multi-modal safety investigation agencies in the world, the TSB pursues its mandate within a framework of independence that makes it a global leader in that regard.

The TSB is a knowledge-based organization. We collect and analyze information, transform it into knowledge and communicate what we know in order to influence positive changes to transportation safety. The TSB must therefore have efficient and effective information management practices. We have made an enormous effort in the last few years to develop and implement an investigation and information management system that meets our needs and complies with government information management requirements. Over the last year, we implemented most of the modules contained in the system. However, work remains to be done in order to make the system's modules and tools fully functional and user-friendly. This project therefore continues to be a priority for the coming year.

The public expects safety deficiencies in the transportation system to be identified and corrected. Over the years, the TSB has done an excellent job to demonstrate its credibility to Canadians by identifying safety deficiencies and issuing numerous safety recommendations. However, not all recommendations have been acted upon satisfactorily. That explains why we are publishing on our website our reassessment of the actions taken to address our recommendations. We hope that this public disclosure will act as an incentive to influence greater change and lead to improved safety actions. This year, the Board members will play a greater role with stakeholders and industry to increase the visibility of TSB's recommendations that are still outstanding. We will also pursue our efforts to increase the number of satisfactory responses to our recommendations through increased follow-up communication activities.

From an internal management perspective, over the coming year, we will undertake different projects aimed at improving the management of our financial resources as well as our infrastructure. We will also pursue the efforts undertaken in the past toward human resources planning and the management of information technology security.

The TSB is strongly committed to making a significant contribution to transportation safety in Canada and abroad. Our sustained efforts will ensure that our products and services, as well as our business activities, remain effective and efficient for the delivery of our mandate.

Section 1 - Overview

1.1 Management Representation Statement

I submit for tabling in Parliament, the 2007-2008 Report on Plans and Priorities (RPP) for the Transportation Safety Board of Canada.

This document has been prepared based on the reporting principles contained in the Guide for the Preparation of Part III of the 2006-2007 Estimates: Reports on Plans and Priorities and Departmental Performance Reports:

  • It adheres to the specific reporting requirements outlined in the Treasury Board Secretariat guidance;
  • It is based on the department's Strategic Outcome and Program Activity Architecture that were approved by the Treasury Board;
  • It presents consistent, comprehensive, balanced and reliable information;
  • It provides a basis of accountability for the results achieved with the resources and authorities entrusted to it; and
  • It reports finances based on approved planned numbers from the Treasury Board Secretariat.



___________________________
Wendy A. Tadros
Chair

1.2 Raison d'être

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is an independent agency created in 1990 by an Act of Parliament (Canadian Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board Act). It operates at arm's length from other government departments and agencies such as Transport Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the National Energy Board to ensure that there are no real or perceived conflicts of interest. Under the legislation, the TSB's only objective is the advancement of transportation safety in the federally regulated elements of the marine, pipeline, rail and air transportation systems. This mandate is fulfilled by conducting independent investigations including, if necessary, public inquiries into transportation occurrences. The purpose of these investigations and inquiries is to identify the causes and contributing factors of the occurrences and the safety deficiencies that can result in recommendations to improve safety and reduce or eliminate risks to people, property and the environment. The TSB has the exclusive authority to make findings as to causes and contributing factors when it investigates a transportation occurrence.



A transportation occurrence is any accident or incident associated with the operation of an aircraft, ship, railway rolling stock, or pipeline. It also includes any hazard that could, in the Board's judgement, induce an accident or incident if left unattended.

Marine, pipeline, railway and air logos

     The jurisdiction of the TSB includes all marine, pipeline, rail or aviation transportation occurrences in or over Canada that fall under federal jurisdiction. The TSB may also represent Canadian interests in foreign investigations of transportation accidents involving Canadian registered, licensed or manufactured ships, railway rolling stock or aircraft. In addition, the TSB carries out some of Canada's obligations related to transportation safety at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

1.3 Resources

The two tables below show information on planned utilization of financial and human resources over the coming three-year period.


Financial Resources ($ thousands)
2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2010
32,458 32,060 31,993


Human Resources
2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2010
235 FTE 235 FTE 235 FTE

FTE = full-time equivalent

1.4 Program Activity and Sub-Activities by Strategic Outcome

The following table shows the expected results the TSB program activity and sub activities are to achieve with the allocated resources.


Expected Results
Government Priority To allow communities to live in a safe and secure environment.
Strategic Outcome To advance transportation safety, thereby reducing risks to people, property and the environment.
Expected Result Increased awareness of safety issues and a strengthened safety culture on the part of governments, industry and the public.
Program Activity To conduct safety investigations.
Expected Result Timely implementation of safety actions by stakeholders to improve transportation safety for Canadians.
Sub-activities Air Investigations
Marine Investigations
Rail/Pipeline Investigations
Expected Result Identification and communication of safety deficiencies in the transportation system to stakeholders and the public.

1.5 Priorities for 2007-2008

The following table summarizes the five departmental priorities for 2007-2008 and the planned direct spending for each one.


Departmental Priorities Type Planned Spending
2007-2008*
($ thousands)
Priority 1: Continuous Improvement of Information Management Previously committed to 466
Priority 2: Management of Workload and Priorities Within Available Resources New 75
Priority 3: Increased Human Resources Planning to Ensure the Retention of a Professional Workforce Previously committed to 100
Priority 4: Review the Sustainability of the Infrastructure New 30
Priority 5: Continuation of Residual 2006-2007 Priority Projects Previously committed to 95

*  Figures shown do not include the salaries for regular staff time dedicated to these priorities and related overhead costs.