CCMTA:
- is not a
federal government agency
- does not issue vehicle registrations, driver licences or international
driver licences
- does not collect road safety data or conduct traffic studies
- does not provide winter road conditions
- does not deal with highways and infrastructure
CCMTA has compiled this list of frequently asked questions to assist
people in finding the correct agencies and authorities that deal
with specific motor transportation regulations. Please follow the
links as necessary.
Driver licensing
is a provincial/territorial responsibility thus requiring drivers
to be licenced in the province/territory of residence.
Please see
the table below:
I am moving
to Canada from another country. Can I exchange my present valid
driver's licence for a Canadian one, or must I apply for a new driver's
licence and complete the necessary written and practical testing?
U.S/
citizens moving to Canada:
All
Canadian jurisdictions extend reciprocity to regular passenger
vehicle driver licenses issued by all U.S. states without
any additional retesting.
Canadian
citizens moving to the US:
Please click here to see which U.S. states extend
reciprocity to regular passenger vehicle drivers licenses
issued by all Canadian province/territory without any additional
written or practical testing.
Other
citizens, moving to and from Canada (not from the US):
Some
countries have reciprocal driver licence exchange agreements
with individual Canadian provinces/territories. Please
click here to see which countries participate.
When
entering into an agreement with another country, Canadian
jurisdictions use the following CCMTA guidelines, approved
in May 2004:
Undertake
due diligence to ensure licensing standards are comparable.
-
Determine if foreign jurisdiction has adequate internal
controls, fraudulent document recognition processes, proper
record keeping and security elements in the driver licence
card itself.
- Determine what other jurisdictions the reciprocating
jurisdiction has agreements with so as to avoid security issues.
- Verification of identity - consistent with CCMTA Oversight
Committee working groups.
-
Proof of residency - consistent with definition of residency
developed by AAMVA - addresses situations of multiple
residences, limits person to possess one licence.
-
Authenticate documents presented at point of contact.
(e.g. International ID Checking Guide)
-
Licence surrendered or marked indicating non-valid in
provincial jurisdiction.
-
Notification of exchanged licences from reciprocating
jurisdictions. Issuing jurisdiction agrees to cancel licence.
-
Verify licence validity and status directly from foreign
issuing jurisdiction to provincial jurisdiction.
-
Valid licence is defined as not expired, revoked, suspended,
withdrawn or cancelled by the issuing jurisdiction at the
time it is presented for exchange. Expired licences may
be processed through an exception procedure.
-
Driver licence classification valid for exchange: passenger vehicle
licences only (i.e. not commercial driver licenses or driver licences for motorcycle).
-
Reserve the right to administer written and road tests.
-
Retain medical and vision testing.
-
Consult with Foreign Affairs Canada prior to signing agreement,
if appropriate.
An international
driver's permit is valid only when the driver has a valid licence
issued by a jurisdiction permitting the operation of a passenger
vehicle.
A valid driver's
licence issued by a jurisdiction must be carried in conjunction
with the IDP.
Most countries
consider an IDP to be a translator of the driver's licence of
the issuing country/state/province/territory. Simply stated, an
IDP is a translation of a licence issued by the country of residence
to help people travelling abroad to avoid language barriers between
foreign drivers and law enforcement.
Please see the table above.
If importing
a vehicle from the U.S.A., please contact the Registrar
of Imported Vehicles toll-free at 1-888-848-8240.
If importing
a vehicle from some place other than the USA, please contact Transport
Canada toll-free at 1-800-333-0371.
Each
Canadian province/territory has regulations dealing with standards
for rebuilding motor vehicles. You must contact the jurisdiction
where the motor vehicle is to be registered for further information.
Each Canadian
province/territory has regulations dealing with vehicle requirements
for aftermarket parts. You must contact each jurisdiction for
further information.
Please go
to the Transport
Canada for further information.
What
is the National Safety Code for Motor Carriers and where can I
obtain a copy?
Authority
must be sought from each jurisdiction in which you intend to travel.
Should you not wish to conduct regular business in a province/territory
on an ongoing basis, application can be made for a trip permit.
Please
see the table above.
The North
American Cargo Securement Standard is a performance-based standard.
In the mid-1990s a joint CCMTA/U.S. research project, including
industry stakeholders, was undertaken to establish a sound technical
foundation for a review of the regulations governing load security.
Research reports
emanating from this project can be obtained at the CCMTA
Publications webpage.
Since 1994
there has been active and close collaboration between representatives
of governments and industry in both Canada and the United States
in pursuit of developing and implementing uniform regulatory requirements
for securement of cargo on highway transport vehicles.
Key milestones
in this collaboration and related documents such as the Final
NSC Standard on Cargo Securement and the training program can
also be obtained on the Cargo Securement webpage.
Canadian provinces/territories
model their legislation on the federal regulations /legislation
for the Transportation of Dangerous Goods. Please contact Transport
Canada for the Transportation
of Dangerous Goods Act and Regulations.
For further
provincial/territorial information please see the agencies below:
-
Ministry of Public Safety & Solicitor General, Commercial
Vehicle Safety & Enforcement Division
Tel: (250) 953-4016, Fax: (250) 952-0578, TDG
Act
-
Alberta Infrastructure & Transportation, Coordination
and Information Centre: 1-800-272-9600
Dangerous
Goods Handling
-
Department of Justice Queen's Printers, Dangerous
Goods Transportation Regulation
Dangerous
Goods Handing and Transportation Act
-
Ontario Ministry of Transportation, Provincial Dangerous Goods
Coordinator
Tel: (905) 704-2342
Ministère des Transports du Québec, Matières
dangereuses
Dept. of Transportation and Public Works, Vehicle Compliance,
Tel: (902) 424-3602
Transportation
of Dangerous Goods
-
Department of Transportation and Public Works, Highway Safety
Operations
Tel: (902) 368-5222
Tel: (709) 729-3454
-
Department of Transportation, Vehicle Inspections Programs
Tel: (867) 920-8015
-
Department of Highways and Public Works, Transportation Services
Tel: (867) 667-5920
Department of Economic Development and Transportation, Services
& Inspections
Tel: (867) 975-5381
All jurisdictions
ensure bill of lading provisions are safeguarded in jurisdictional
legislation.
The existing
bills of lading provisions are similar among the provinces/territories,
with variations relating to specific commodities. The legislation
in each jurisdiction is the best source for bill of lading requirements.
Transport
Canada is responsible for setting vehicle manufacturing standards
in Canada. The provinces/territories have the responsibility of
implementing these standards, including any requirements for retrofit.
Implementation
date for retrofitting trailers:
- January
1, 2000 for all trailers built on or/after December 1, 1993
- January 1, 2002 for all trailers built prior to December 1,
1993
Rules and
technical specifications on reflective tape can be found at the Transport Canada.
A number of provincial governments have introduced requirements
for reflective tape in their respective Highway Traffic Acts or
vehicle equipment regulations.
Please contact
your provincial/territorial government website.
Collected
in collaboration with CCMTA , Transport Canada annually produces
a pamphlet entitled "Canadian
Motor Vehicle Traffic Collision Statistics". It contains statistical
information on the "Number of Licensed Drivers by Gender and Age
Group", "Fatalities and Injuries by Age Group", "Fatalities by
Road User Class" etc.
in Canada.
The information contained in this FAQ section is by no means the
final word on the issues described. It is our intent to assist those
who are seeking information regarding the subject matter. Moreover,
CCMTA is not responsible should any part or all of the information
provided change, nor is it responsible for the content of external
sites. |
