Governance structures
As a small government department, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has a very clear mission – we conduct independent safety investigations and communicate risks in the transportation system. Our sole objective is to make the transportation system safer – a system that plays a vital role in Canada’s economy and in everyone’s life.
Our work is done in an unbiased manner for the general benefit of all Canadians regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, age, or mental / physical disability. However, where appropriate the TSB does not refrain from addressing issues it uncovers that may focus on a specific segment of the population so that corrective actions can be taken to improve safety for that particular group. For example, in one investigation the TSB made recommendations about proper restraint systems for infants and young children, and in another, the TSB made a recommendation to improve the safety of railway grade crossings for persons with disabilities.
The TSB has a governance model consisting of three senior-level committees: the Board, the Executive Committee (EC), and the Management Committee (MC). Each committee includes a diverse membership. The Board is composed of five Governor-in-Council appointees - three of whom are women (including the Chair). The Board reviews and approves all TSB investigation reports and safety recommendations. The EC is composed of eight Executives and three other senior officials - five of whom are women and one is a visible minority. The EC is the main decision-making body for the organization. It provides strategic direction and approves policies, priorities, initiatives and major corporate activities. The MC is composed of one executive and eleven middle level managers – four of whom are women. The mandate of the MC includes the review of administrative and management procedures, guidelines and standards, as well as corporate initiatives that have broad implications on the TSB.
At this time, the TSB does not have a specified GBA+ implementation plan. However, the TSB is continuing to raise awareness amongst the management team regarding GBA+ applicability to TSB programs and activities.
Human resources
As noted above, the TSB is a small organization with a very clear and specific operational mandate. The TSB currently has no resources dedicated to GBA+. Where required, the TSB will allocate temporary internal resources to conduct GBA+ analyses on a project-by-project basis.
Planned initiatives
As noted above, the TSB currently does not have a specified GBA+ implementation plan. However, the TSB is continuing to raise awareness amongst the management team regarding GBA+ applicability to TSB programs and activities.
Reporting capacity and data
The TSB maintains modal databases containing operational information on investigation activities pertaining to air, marine, pipeline, and rail transportation occurrences. The TSB may collect and report data that focuses on personal and physical characteristics such as experience, gender, physical attributes, and/or disabilities as deemed applicable to a specific transportation occurrence investigation. Data from the modal databases is available on the TSB website, but it does not contain third-party, personal and privileged information, in accordance with the Canadian Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board Act, the Privacy Act, and the Access to Information Act. Final transportation safety investigation reports are available on the TSB’s website.