OTTAWA, Ont. Transport Canada is amending the MVTA to include new Safety Fitness Certificate Regulations (Safety Ratings).

The Motor Vehicle Transportation Act (MVTA) requires all motor carriers and owner-operators to have a safety fitness certificate in order to operate extra-provincially on Canadian roads.

The new regulations define "Safety Fitness Certificate" and provide a framework for provinces and territories to implement, consistently across Canada, a safety rating system for extra-provincial carriers.

The goal is to ensure comparable motor carrier safety performance results in a comparable safety rating regardless of their province. Each province will be responsible for monitoring the safety performance of all extra-provincial carriers base-plated in their jurisdiction using input from all provinces in which the carrier operates.

All carriers will initially be rated "Satisfactory Unaudited" until such time as their safety performance and/or facility audit results in a rating of "SatisfactoryAudited," "Conditional" or "Unsatisfactory."
A carrier rated "Unsatisfactory" would be prohibited from operating on Canadian roads.

The new regulations repeal the Extra-Provincial Truck Undertaking Licencing Regulations that set out insurance and safety fitness requirements.

These latest regulations on safety certificates were posted in the Canada Gazette May 3. Carriers and interested parties have 75 days to comment on them.

To view the proposed regulations, visit www.canadagazette.gc.ca

To find out how to submit comments on them contact the Road Safety and Motor Vehicle Regulation Directorate of Transport Canada at 1-800-333-0371 or regsclerkcommis@tc.gc.ca