News release

Today, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) released its annual assessment of outstanding safety recommendations, which indicates that significant transportation safety deficiencies remain unresolved despite years of calls for action.

While 84% of responses to TSB recommendations since 1990 have been assessed as Fully Satisfactory, 78 recommendations remain outstanding, indicating that important safety deficiencies have yet to be fully addressed and risks to Canadians persist. 

"Some of the recommendations highlighted in this year's assessment stem from investigations that occurred nearly a decade ago. While we recognize that in some areas progress has been made, meaningful action is still needed to address longstanding safety deficiencies and reduce the risk of future accidents," said the Chair of the TSB, Yoan Marier.

Among the issues highlighted this year are persistent risks related to commercial helicopter operations, commercial fishing vessel stability, and delays in implementing enhanced train control systems designed to prevent train collisions and derailments.

Air transportation sector

Of the 27 responses to air recommendations that the Board assessed in 2025–26, its recommendation calling for Transport Canada (TC) to set requirements to ensure instrument-rated pilots stay proficient in instrument flying when operating in conditions that require those skills (A16-09), was assessed as Fully Satisfactory.

This was the only recommendation this year to be closed with a Fully Satisfactory rating across all four modes of transport.

Marine transportation sector

The Board assessed the progress on 22 outstanding marine recommendations in 2025–26. None were closed, reflecting ongoing challenges in addressing long-standing deficiencies, especially in commercial fishing safety.

Among outstanding recommendations, Recommendation M16-03 called for stability assessments for all small commercial fishing vessels, a key issue in multiple fatal occurrences investigated by the TSB. In its latest response, TC indicated that it does not intend to amend its regulations to require stability assessments for all small commercial fishing vessels. Although the Board acknowledges TC’s efforts to increase awareness of vessel stability, it considers that the underlying risk remains for a significant portion of the fishing fleet. As a result, the response was assessed as Unsatisfactory.

Rail transportation sector

The Board assessed the progress of eight rail recommendations in 2025–26. None were closed, and the Board has downgraded its assessment of a key recommendation aimed at preventing train collisions and derailments. 

Recommendation R22-04 called on TC to expedite the implementation of enhanced train control (ETC) systems on Canada’s high-speed corridors and key routes that can automatically intervene when train crews fail to respond appropriately to signals. More recently, in 2025, the Board also recommended that immediate interim measures be introduced to reduce risks until such systems are in place (R25-01).

In its latest assessments, the Board downgraded the response to R22-04 to Unsatisfactory and was unable to assess the response to R25-01. While TC has reiterated its commitment to advancing ETC, it has yet to provide a detailed action plan or clear timelines for implementation. As a result, the risk of collisions and derailments resulting from missed signals remains.

Pipeline transportation sector

No new pipeline recommendations were issued in 2025–26, and none are outstanding. All previous pipeline recommendations were assessed as Fully Satisfactory and closed.

About recommendations

TSB recommendations are intended to prompt action by industry and regulators to address safety issues and reduce risks in Canada’s transportation system. Each year, the Board assesses progress to help ensure that safety deficiencies identified through investigations are effectively addressed. 

Responses to recommendations are assessed based on the extent to which the underlying safety deficiency has been or is being addressed. For more details, see the Board’s assessment rating guide.