Latest news with #MinisterOfTransport
CTV News
23-07-2025
- General
- CTV News
Transportation Safety Board launches investigation into 2022 P.E.I. ferry fire
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) released its investigation report alongside a recommendation regarding the fire and flooding on the Holiday Island ferry back in 2022. According to the report, the fire broke out in the engine room of the Holiday Island ferry after a non-standard repaid to the ferry's fuel injection system failed, causing fuel to spray onto hot engine components and ignite on July 22, 2022. About 230 passengers had to evacuate the ship using an inflatable slide and were later ferried ashore. No injuries were reported in the fire. Two days later, the ferry was towed to the Wood Islands terminal where it was declared a constructive total loss. The Board said a key issue that was uncovered through the investigation was confusion regarding the role of the authorized representative, which is the person legally responsible for the ferry's safety. The investigation found the Minister of Transport held the role of authorized representative, with some responsibilities shared between Transport Canada and Northumberland Ferries Limited through a charter agreement. It was also found staff at both organizations were unsure of what that role entailed and who was ultimately responsible for carrying out those obligations. 'The lack of clarity extended into critical areas such as operations, emergency repairs, and oversight,' read the report. 'This investigation, along with others before it, has identified a lack of understanding and awareness of the roles and responsibilities of authorized representatives in the industry.' The report also made one recommendation; Transport Canada provide comprehensive guidance for authorized representatives which outlines the full scope of their responsibilities. The recommendation also said that guidance should help authorized representatives understand and comply with applicable regulations, which the Board says will reduce the risk of vessels and crews operating without the minimum safety regulations. The Board also noted key issues found in the investigation were not unique to the Holiday Island ferry, instead they reflect systematic safety gaps the Board says they've been trying to raise for decades, specifically regarding clarity of roles, accountability and emergency preparedness in the marine sector of Canada. 'This investigation adds to a growing list of vessel fires overwhelming a crew's ability to respond, highlighting the risks and urgent need for more effective response capabilities when every second counts,' read the report. The Board adds they will be engaging with other marine operators, firefighting services, ports and harbours, and other key partners in hopes of building a clearer understanding of vessel fires and how they are managed. The MV Holiday operated from 1971, first between P.E.I and N.B., then to Nova Scotia after the Confederation Bridge was opened in 1997 before it was destroyed in the fire in 2022. The Transportation Safety Board is an independent agency which investigates air, marine, pipeline, and rail transportation occurrences with the aim of advancing transportation safety. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
Malay Mail
13-07-2025
- Automotive
- Malay Mail
Concerns on the privatisation of public car parking in Selayang, Petaling Jaya, Subang and Shah Alam — William Leong Jee Keen
JULY 13 — The appointment of concession company Rantaian Mesra Sdn Bhd to take over parking fee collection and enforcement in four Selangor local councils from August 1, 2025 raises several issues of concern. Legality: The first concern is the legality of the scheme for a private company to manage and enforce the collection of parking fees. It raises the question whether the local council has the legal power to give away 50 per cent of the revenue to Rantaian Mesra Sdn Bhd and 10 per cent to Menteri Besar Selangor Incorporated (MBI) leaving the local council with 40 per cent. It also raises the question whether this privatisation scheme was done with the agreement of the Minister of Transport and whether such privatisation of public car parks is allowed under the Road Transport Act 1987. The public car park lots are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Transport and the local councils are delegated the functions to manage and collect the parking fees by agreement with the Minister under section 72 of the Road Transport Act 1987. Section 72(1) states that any appropriate authority or public body may, by order publish in the Gazette, provide suitable parking places for vehicles or stands for public service vehicles or goods vehicles in accordance with the Act. The relevant principal Gazette Orders for car parks in respect of the four local councils expressly states that the Orders were made pursuant to the powers conferred under Section 72 of the Road Transport Act 1987 and the relevant local council with the concurrence of the Minister of Transport makes the order for the collection and enforcement of public car parking lots in the specified areas within the local council. There is no provision in the Gazette Orders to allow the local council to privatise the car parking management and collection of parking fees. The relevant principal Gazette Orders: 1) Road Transport (Provision of Parking Places) Petaling Jaya City Council Order 2007 and subsequent amendments; 2) Road Transport (Provision of Parking Places) Selayang Order 2007; 3) Road Transport (Provision of Parking Places) Subang Order 2007; 4) Road Transport (Provision of Parking Places) Shah Alam Order 2007; Competency and Accountability: The second concern is the principle of competency and accountability. The reason given for the privatisation is the poor collection of 30 per cent and lax enforcement resulting in double parking. One would think that the obvious solution to poor performance in collection and enforcement is to improve the competence, skills, and capabilities of the personnel involved and if necessary, to change them for more competent staff. By pursuing a privatisation scheme, the effect is to acknowledge the incompetency of the present staff as being beyond redemption but these incompetent staff are rewarded by keeping their jobs and salaries without having to do any work, while the local council loses half of its revenue. Public Interest: The third concern is the public interest and particularly the interest of the residents within the local council area. The revenue collected is meant for the well-being of the residents. It is not intended to allow private entities to make profits. Further the privatisation of enforcement powers for offences cannot be made a source of income which brings with it the dangers of abuse and corruption. It is urged that both the Minister of Transport and the Selangor State Government address these concerns. William Leong Jee Keen Member of Parliament Selayang * This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
Zawya
28-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
The Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) Receives Briefing from Road Accident Fund (RAF) on Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Special Leave and Ongoing SIU Investigation
The Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) has instructed the minster to take urgent steps to restore the effectiveness of governance systems at the Road Accident Fund (RAF). The RAF Chief Executive Officer, Mr Collins Letsoalo, was placed on special leave on Monday, 26 May 2025. The committee has a litany of concerns, which include but are not limited to: That the board has failed properly to ensure that its senior officials are vetted for suitability, with the Chief Executive Officer informing the committee on 16 October 2024 that he had been vetted when this was not the case. Misleading Parliament is a serious breach of trust. Failure to perform background checks on a senior official, also unvetted, even though he escaped disciplinary charges at his previous state employer. The committee has consistently expressed extreme displeasure at the practice of state employees escaping accountability for serious misconduct by securing employment elsewhere in the state. Continuing for more than two years without ahead of legal services while pursuing litigation against the Auditor-General,and against the instructions of more than one Minister of Transport. Failure to appoint a Chief Claims Officer for more than two years despite a serious backlog of claims. Accumulating over R4bn in default judgements while failing to appoint either a head of legal services or Chief Claims Officer. The RAF has on numerous occasions been excoriated by the courts,including a case last week where the RAF attempted to overturn a R6m judgment by filing false statements with the court, and then proceeding not to argue its own application. Just two law firms in a panel of over 40receiving over 83% of legal fees (R83m) paid during the most recent financial year. The two law firms also received the bulk of payments in the previous financial year. The decision to place the CEO on special leave was taken by the board yesterday and announced to SCOPA by the Deputy Minister of Transport Mr Mkhuleko Hlongwa today in a meeting that was meant to discuss updates on the ongoing SIU investigations at RAF. RAF board Chairperson, Ms Zanele Francois, told SCOPA that the reason for the CEO special leave was due to a disagreement over whether the RAF should agree to account to Parliament, the content of the presentation and potential conflict in relation to the ongoing SIU investigation. The committee has instructed the board to provide comprehensive reasons in writing to the committee within a week. SCOPA has resolved to recall RAF to return with detailed explanations regarding the special leave of the CEO, a breakdown of spending on cases with a list of law firms, attorney and council fees. 'The Road Accident Fund is funded by taxpayers. It is unacceptable that any official thereof refuses to account to Parliament in the manner we have experienced during the past week. It is also unacceptable that the institution can accumulate billions in default judgments due to its failure to manage litigation properly, leaving the institution vulnerable to expensive default judgments that accumulate interest taxpayers must pay,' said Songezo Zibi, the Chair of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.
Zawya
26-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Saudi: New regulation strengthens GACA's oversight of airports and companies
NEW YORK — The new regulation grants the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) financial and administrative independence and broad powers to regulate and develop the sector, in line with the national strategy for transport and logistics services and enhancing the sector's investment attractiveness. The regulation, published in Umm Al-Qura newspaper on Friday, aims to strengthen oversight of airlines, airports, and entities operating in the sector, as well as to ensure their compliance with regulations and standards. It also aims to introduce new policies and legislation, as well as to regulate licensing, permits, and civil, private, military, and diplomatic flights. The regulation includes responsibilities related to aviation security, the environment, frequency use, and navigation information, as well as setting unified standards for smart airport technologies and improving the passenger experience. The regulation defines the powers of the GACA's board of directors, headed by the minister of transport, and including representatives from government agencies and experts from the private sector. The board is granted broad powers, including the adoption of policies and strategies, the approval of regulations and budgets, and the approval of the investment of GACA funds and international contracts. The GACA chairman will be the chief executive officer and has direct powers to manage the authority's business, appoint employees, approve financial expenditures, and represent the authority judicially and administratively. © Copyright 2022 The Saudi Gazette. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Asharq Al-Awsat
22-05-2025
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Arabia Grants Civil Aviation Authority Financial Independence
The Saudi government has approved a new regulatory framework for the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), granting it expanded powers to achieve financial sustainability and operate independently from the state budget. Under the new structure, approved recently by the Council of Ministers, GACA will gradually transition to self-funding through revenue generated from its services. While it will initially receive allocations from the state budget, the long-term goal is for the authority to maintain its own independent annual budget and a reserve fund equal to twice its previous year's expenditures. The move is part of Saudi Arabia's broader strategy to modernize and privatize key sectors, in line with the national transport and logistics strategy. GACA's updated mandate includes regulating and developing the civil aviation sector, improving oversight, and making the industry more attractive to private investment. GACA is now authorized to invest its revenues to support its financial goals. The Minister of Transport and Logistics—who also chairs the authority's board—and the Minister of Finance will jointly oversee how these investments are managed. The authority can also impose service fees for activities and operations it oversees. However, these fees must be coordinated with the Ministry of Finance and the Center for Non-Oil Revenue Development, until a broader regulatory framework for government service charges is finalized. The new structure empowers GACA to set policies, draft regulations, and monitor compliance across the aviation sector. This includes oversight of airport operations, enforcement of safety and performance standards, and ensuring alignment with the civil aviation strategy. GACA will also handle flight permits for scheduled, charter, military, and diplomatic flights, and approve commercial agreements involving domestic and international carriers. It will set unified standards for smart airport technologies to improve passenger experience, in collaboration with the Communications, Space and Technology Commission. Environmental protection will also fall under GACA's jurisdiction, including the design and supervision of aviation-related sustainability programs, while agreements between Saudi and foreign airlines operating to and from the Kingdom must comply with international treaties and reflect economic, social, and security priorities.
