This chapter describes how the transport policy issues in Canada have many features in common with other countries but it also reflects differences arising from its geographic size, patterns of economic development, and its federal political structure. Canadian national transport policy is the focus of this chapter and this policy deals with inter-provincial and international transport of freight and passengers, and has traditionally been little involved with urban transport and the automobile. The latter is in contract to transport policy concerns for developed countries with high population densities. Historically, transportation policy orientation was to unify the country and promote a national economy, whereas over time the importance of transport to facilitate economic activity and trade became more important than political unity objectives. The result has been a shift in the broad policy from one in which transport was used as an instrument to serve national policy, an approach that resulted in the promotion and protection of carriers, to an approach that largely separates transport policy from other national policy concerns. This shift in policy has taken place as the country has grown and matured economically and politically.
Samenvatting