The Goal

To improve Canadians' lives by reducing environmental impacts, including air pollution, and embracing new technologies.

The Measures
To meet our goals for making transportation green and innovative, Transport Canada committed to:

• Work with provinces and territories through a Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change to support a low-carbon transportation system
• Promote ways transportation can adapt to the changing climate, especially in Canada's North, where thawing permafrost affects the efficiency, safety and maintenance of infrastructure
• Continue to seek the right balance in regulating unmanned aircraft system technology, so that:
    o remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) continue to help advance scientific research, exploration and rescue operations
    o RPAS regulations promote safety and foster economic growth
• Support the use of connected and automated vehicles on our public roads to:
    o improve road safety
    o reduce congestion
    o increase mobility
    o protect the environment
    o support economic opportunities for Canadian businesses
• Make sure our actions support work on government priorities, such as:
    o Canada's Phase 2 infrastructure plan
    o a Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change
    o a national innovation agenda

Remotely piloted aircraft systems
New regulations for small remotely piloted aircraft systems are been developing (also known as drones). These new regulations will include clear safety rules. Transport Canada continues to support Canadian research and development for drones.

• The department has given the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Centre of Excellence approval to begin operations in Alma, Quebec
• This test range provides dedicated, restricted airspace where drones can be tested beyond visual line-of-sight
• We have also provided regulatory expertise on a trial basis for potential search and rescue applications

Automated and connected vehicles
Transport Canada is testing a cooperative truck transport system that uses connected vehicle technology. This technology allows trucks to move more efficiently in tight formations and reduces aerodynamic drag, called “platooning.” This is the first time this test has been done in Canada. It will improve our understanding of the operational and fuel economy benefits of connected vehicles.

In September 2017, we launched the Program to Advance Connectivity and Automation in the Transportation System to help Canadian provinces, territories and municipalities prepare Canada's transportation system for Connected and Automated Vehicles.

Source: "Transportation 2030: Green and Innovative Transportation", Transport Canada, https://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/future-transportation-canada-green-innovative-transportation.html