Board of Transport Commissioners History
Last revised December 20, 2024

Origins and Powers of the Board

SC 1851, c. 73 (14-15 Vict, cap. LXXIII) appointed the first Board of Railway Commissioners for the purpose of supervising the construction of a main trunk line between the Province of Upper and Lower Canada and New Brunswick.

1857

SC 1857, c. 12 (20 Vict, cap. XII) gave the Board powers of supervision in regards for the safety of passengers and prevention of accidents on the railways.

1868

SC 1868, c.68 (31 Vict, cap. LXVIII) replaced the Board with the Railway Committee of the Privy Council and gave them certain administrative powers.

1888

SC 1888, c. 29 (51 Vict) gave the Committee, in addition to certain regulative powers, powers to hear and determine any application respecting a number of specified subjects.

1904

SC 1903, c. 58 replaced the Committee with the Board of Railway Commissioners on February 1, 1904. However, in a procedural glitch, the appointments to the Board had been made by Order in Council and gazetted before the Act establishing the Commission came into force. New Orders in Council had to be passed making the appointments.

The Board assumed jurisdiction over express, telephone and telegraph tolls, railway safety, electric power rates, approval of tolls for international bridges and tunnels, and jurisdiction over the abandonment of rail lines.

Name changes

1851 - 1868: Board of Railway Commissioners 

1868 - 1904: Railway Committee of the Privy Council

1904 – 1938: Board of Railway Commissioners

1938 – 1967: Board of Transport Commissioners

1967 – 1987: Canadian Transport Commission

1988 – 1996: National Transportation Agency

1996 – present: Canadian Transportation Agency

Legislative history

SC 1851, c. 73 (14-15 Vict, cap. LXXIII), An Act to make provision for the construction of a Main Trunk Line of Railway throughout the whole length of this Province

SC 1857, c. 12 (20 Vict, cap. XII), An Act for the better Prevention of Accidents on Railways

SC 1868, c.68 (31 Vict, cap. LXVIII), An Act respecting Railways

SC 1888, c. 29 (51 Vict), The Railway Act

SC 1903, c. 58, The Railway Act

SC 1938, c. 53, The Transport Act 

  • the Board of Railway Commissioners became the Board of Transport Commissioners and had authority over inland waterways and airlines, along with jurisdiction over railways, telegraphs, telephones, and express companies.

SC 1966-67, c. 69, The National Transportation Act

  • merged the Board of Transport Commissioners with the Air Transport Board and the Canadian Maritime Commission to become the Canadian Transport Commission (CTC)
  • The CTC's mandate was to deal with all modes of transportation as a competitive whole with the object of coordinating and harmonizing the operations of all carriers engaged in transport by railways, water, aircraft, extra-provincial motor vehicle transport and commodity pipelines

SC 1987, c.34 – also cited as RSC 1985, c.28 (3rd Supp.), The National Transportation Act, 1987

  • the CTC was renamed the National Transportation Agency (NTA)
  • Section 301 retitled this Act as the National Telecommunications Powers and Procedures Act
  • Repealed by the Telecommunications Act, SC 1993, c.38

SC 1996, c. 10 , The Canada Transportation Act

  • the NTA became the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA)

 

Content reviewed December 20, 2024

 

References