As a result of their deliberations committees may make recommendations which they include in their reports for the consideration of the House of Commons or the Government. Recommendations related to this study are listed below.

Recommendation 1 – on the effectiveness of oversight activities

That Transport Canada provide the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Accounts with (1) a report on the development of indicators that can be used to assess performance, by 31 October 2021; (2) a report on railway companies’ compliance with regulations, by 28 February 2022; and (3) a report on the evaluation of the rail safety oversight program and the action plan to better measure program effectiveness on an ongoing basis, by 28 February 2023.

Recommendation 2 – on the information available to plan for inspections

That, by 31 October 2021, Transport Canada provide the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Accounts with a report on the changes made to guidelines issued to railway companies regarding the safety data they must submit to the department.

Recommendation 3 – on taking into account the audit results

That, by 31 August 2022, Transport Canada provide the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Accounts with a report outlining the changes to its planning procedures for oversight activities to ensure that they integrate the findings from audits of safety management systems.

Recommendation 4 – on the lack of standard time frames

That, by 31 December 2021, Transport Canada provide the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Accounts with a report outlining its new standards on time frames to assess whether railway companies have corrected the deficiencies identified in inspections and audits of safety management systems.

Recommendation 5 – on information management for safety management system audits

That, by 31 December 2021, Transport Canada provide the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Accounts with a report on the implementation of its new information management plan for data from safety management system audits.

Recommendation 6 – on assessing the effectiveness of safety management systems

That Transport Canada provide the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Accounts with: (1) a report on the effectiveness of rail companies’ safety management system processes, by 31 December 2021; and (2) a report on its consultations on the Railway Safety Management System Regulations, 2015, by 31 October 2022.