Effective July 1, 2018, last revised September 24, 2024
1. Context
1.1 In accordance with subsection 24(1) of the Canadian Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board Act (CTAISB Act), upon completion of any investigation, the Board must prepare a report on its findings and make it available to the public. However, before the report is finalized, pursuant to subsection 24(2) of the CTAISB Act and in accordance with procedures contained in the Board bylaws, the Board sends a confidential draft of the report to each minister and any other persons (organizations and individuals) who, in the opinion of the Board, have a direct interest in the Board’s findings.
It is an underlying principle of the Board to strive to ensure that fairness, accuracy, confidentiality, international commitments and legal obligations, as outlined in the CTAISB Act, are taken into account when identifying such persons.
The Board must provide these persons a reasonable opportunity to make representations on the draft report before the final report is prepared.
2. Definitions
2.1 “Confidential draft report review” (CDR review) is the stage of the investigation process at which designated reviewers are invited to make representations on the draft report.
2.2 “Designated reviewers” (DRs) are organizations and individuals who, in the opinion of the Board, have a direct interest in the Board’s findings and can contribute to the completeness and accuracy of the report. DRs are identified using the criteria defined in this policy.
2.3 “Representatives” are third-party individuals chosen by the DRs to assist with the CDR review.
3. Policy objective
3.1 The purpose of this policy is to define the criteria for the selection of DRs who will be invited to make representations on confidential draft reports (CDRs) and to establish a framework for handling representations on CDRs.
4. Policy requirements
Selection of designated reviewers
4.1 The organizations and individuals who, in the opinion of the Board, meet one of these criteria are selected as DRs:
- Ministers who have a regulatory and/or oversight role over the activities examined in the investigation
- Organizations and individuals who may be adversely affected by the report because it describes their performance, behaviour, or products
- Organizations and individuals who have a substantial involvement in the investigation or may otherwise contribute to the completeness and accuracy of the report
- Organizations such as foreign investigation bodies (e.g., Australian Transport Safety Bureau, Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses, National Transportation Safety Board) who can be named as DRs in accordance with international agreements.
4.2 A next of kin who has been named a DR may choose to be represented by the executor of the estate for the CDR review.
4.3 Other individuals (e.g., passengers, passengers’ next of kin, unions, insurance companies, local community leaders) may have an interest in an occurrence and the associated TSB report. However, these individuals are not named DRs because their input is unlikely to add to the completeness and accuracy of the report.
4.4 Coroners are not named DRs because they conduct their own investigations or inquiries.
Confidential draft report review
4.5 At the discretion of the Board, the DRs will be provided with a complete CDR or just the sections relevant to them, and they will be invited to make representations. The Board may also provide other investigation-related documents to some DRs to help them fully understand the issues discussed in the CDR.
4.6 DRs must undertake to respect subsections 24(3), 24(4.1), and 24(4.4) of the CTAISB Act before they can access a copy of the CDR.
4.7 DRs must destroy the CDR and any copies made once they have sent their representations to the TSB.
4.8 DRs may ask a representative to help them review the CDR and prepare their representations.
4.9 Representatives of DRs are bound by the same obligations set out in 4.6 and 4.7.
4.10 All representations must be submitted to the Board in writing.
4.11 In accordance with section 24 of the CTAISB Act, the Board protects a DR’s identity and their representations except for representations made by a minister responsible for a department having a direct interest in the findings of the Board.
4.12 The Board does not meet with DRs to discuss their representations. This ensures that all DRs are given equal consideration and that all representations are fully documented in the investigation file.
4.13 The Board considers the representations and, if appropriate, changes the report.
4.14 The representations are not included in the final report except for those authorized by a State signatory to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Convention on International and Civil Aviation. Note 2 to Section 6.3 of Annex 13 of the Convention states that the only comments that would be appended are those relating to the “technical aspects of the final report upon which no agreement could be reached.”
4.15 The Board's response to the representations are sent to the DRs in writing, along with a copy of the final report.
Time allowed for representations
4.16 DRs are given the following number of days to submit their representations:
| Occurrence classification | Type of investigation report | Number of days |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Safety issue investigation | 60 |
| Class 2 | Complex investigation | 45 |
| Class 3 | Detailed investigation | 30 |
| Class 4 | Limited-scope investigation | 15 |
4.17 Signatory States to the ICAO Convention on International and Civil Aviation that meet any of the criteria provided at section 6.3 of Annex 13 to the Convention, can provide their comments up to 60 days from the date of receiving the draft report, regardless of the occurrence classification.
4.18 DRs may request an extension beyond the stipulated response date if they need more time to review the CDR and submit their representations to the Board. The submission period for class 4 limited-scope investigation reports may be extended by a maximum of 7 days. For other classes of investigation reports, the submission period may be extended by a maximum of 30 days.
4.19 Requests for an extension must be submitted in writing, include bona fide reasons for the extension, and specify the amount of extra time requested.
4.20 Approval of extensions for DR representations may be authorized in the following circumstances:
- The DR did not receive the CDR.
- The DR is away from their workplace for an extended period and does not have access to the required supporting materials.
- The CDR is long and complex.
- The DR must retain their own experts to help review a report.
- There are exceptional circumstances beyond the control of the DR.
4.21 After the specific circumstances have been considered, the extension may be approved as requested, or for a shorter period. A response will be provided whether the extension is approved or denied.
Further consultations after consideration of representations
4.22 After considering representations, the Board may conclude that substantive amendments to its report or findings are required. Depending on the nature and extent of the changes, the Board has discretion to provide an opportunity for further representations.
4.23 Organizations or individuals who, in the opinion of the Board, would be affected by the changes to the CDR can then be given the amended CDR, in whole or in part. These organizations or individuals may be all or some of the original DRs.
4.24 There may also be other persons who, because of the changes to the CDR, now become DRs per the Board’s policy.
4.25 The Board will determine the submission period for the second round of representations, based on the extent and complexity of the changes made to the CDR.
5. Authorities
5.1 This policy is issued under the authority of the Board in accordance with subsections 8(1)(b), 8(1)(c) and 24(4) of the CTAISB Act. It was approved by the Board on June 20, 2018, and was last revised on September 24, 2024The previous revision was on March 10, 2021., after consultation with the Executive Committee.
5.2 This policy will be reviewed and may be updated in response to changes in government priorities or TSB strategic direction, but at least once every 5 years.
6. Roles and responsibilities
6.1 Board
The Board is responsible for
- approving the organizations or individuals who will be DRs invited to make representations on CDRs or amended CDRs in accordance with this policy,
- approving the responses to all representations received, and
- establishing the submission period for the second round of representations, if any.
6.2 Chair
The Chair is responsible for initiating the periodic review and update of this policy by the Board.
The Chair is also responsible for granting extensions to DRs in accordance with this policy.
6.3 Chief operating officer
The chief operating officer (COO) is responsible for the overall implementation, monitoring, and oversight of this policy, as well as for seeking interpretation and guidance from the Board from time to time.
The COO, as the Chair’s delegate, may approve extensions to the submission period for DRs’ representations on CDRs.
6.4 Directors of investigations
Each DOI is responsible for ensuring that investigators adhere to this policy.
The DOI is also responsible for recommending
- extensions to the submission period for representations, in accordance with this policy, and
- a list of organizations or individuals who could be invited to be DRs
For a class 4 limited-scope investigation, the DOI may be delegated by the Board to
- approve the CDR,
- determine the individuals or organizations to be DRs,
- approve the release of other investigation-related documents to DRs, and/or
- approve extensions to the submission period.
6.5 Investigator-in-charge
The IIC is responsible for proposing a list of organizations and individuals who could be invited to be DRs.
7. References
7.1 The following acts, regulations, and international conventions, and by-laws apply:
- Canadian Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board Act
- Transportation Safety Board Regulations
- Transportation Safety Board By-Laws
- Privacy Act
- International Civil Aviation Organization, Annex 13
- International Marine Organization, Marine Casualty Code
8. Enquiries
8.1 Questions about this policy may be addressed to:
General enquiries
1-800-387-3557
1-819-994-3741
communications@bst-tsb.gc.ca