AG Denies Giving Extensions to Transport Canada on Safety Audit

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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Auditor general has categorically denied having granted an extension to Transport Canada on accomplishing its commitments to remove lapses in safety of the transportation of dangerous products. A spokesperson for the auditor general’s office, Celine Bisonnette, alleged that “we aren’t, as auditors, the ones who grant extensions.” She mentioned that “that is Transport Canada’s own decision, for which they alone are accountable.”

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Transport Canada admitted haven failed to accomplish three vital guarantees to rectify flaws in the oversight of transportation of dangerous goods. It was disclosed that the weaknesses were identified in a December 2011 audit by the federal environment commissioner. However, Transport Canada added in the statement that it was allowed to fulfill the requirements in an extended time period permitted by the auditor general’s office.

The former environment commissioner at the time of 2011 audit, Scott Vaughan, commented that the highlighted lapses in the system were “not new” and were also identified in internal government audits five years earlier. Vaughan’s audit revealed that the inspectors were not determined to ensure safety even after the lapses were uncovering during inspections of transportation of dangerous products in a variety of modes, including railways, roads, shipments on water and air. At that time, the department sought permission to fix the oversight weaknesses by April 2013. However, now in light of the dreadful Lac-Megantic train disaster, the department said it had extended its deadlines to fix some weaknesses.

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