Marginal note:Short title

1. This Act may be cited as the Canada Transportation Act.

Marginal note:Binding on Her Majesty

2. This Act is binding on Her Majesty in right of Canada or a province.

Marginal note:Application generally

3. This Act applies in respect of transportation matters under the legislative authority of Parliament.

Marginal note:Conflicts

• 4. (1) Subject to subsection (2), where there is a conflict between any order or regulation made under this Act in respect of a particular mode of transportation and any rule, order or regulation made under any other Act of Parliament in respect of that particular mode of transportation, the order or regulation made under this Act prevails.

• Marginal note:Competition Act

  (2) Subject to subsection (3), nothing in or done under the authority of this Act, other than Division IV of Part III, affects the operation of the Competition Act.

• Marginal note:International agreements respecting air services

  (3) In the event of any inconsistency or conflict between an international agreement or convention respecting air services to which Canada is a party and the Competition Act, the provisions of the agreement or convention prevail to the extent of the inconsistency or conflict.

Marginal note:Declaration

5. It is declared that a competitive, economic and efficient national transportation system that meets the highest practicable safety and security standards and contributes to a sustainable environment and makes the best use of all modes of transportation at the lowest total cost is essential to serve the needs of its users, advance the well-being of Canadians and enable competitiveness and economic growth in both urban and rural areas throughout Canada. Those objectives are most likely to be achieved when

• (a) competition and market forces, both within and among the various modes of transportation, are the prime agents in providing viable and effective transportation services;

• (b) regulation and strategic public intervention are used to achieve economic, safety, security, environmental or social outcomes that cannot be achieved satisfactorily by competition and market forces and do not unduly favour, or reduce the inherent advantages of, any particular mode of transportation;

• (c) rates and conditions do not constitute an undue obstacle to the movement of traffic within Canada or to the export of goods from Canada;

• (d) the transportation system is accessible without undue obstacle to the mobility of persons, including persons with disabilities; and

• (e) governments and the private sector work together for an integrated transportation system.