Legislation

Highway Traffic Act

Legislation Regarding Commercial Vehicle Operator's Registration and Carrier Safety Ratings

• Commercial motor vehicles Definitions - Sections 16 - 23
• Suspension and cancellation of licence, etc., general - Section 47
• Appeals of suspension and cancellation - Section 50

Regulation: O. REG. 424/97 AS AMENDED BY O. REG. 197/99
Made under the Highway Traffic Act

This Regulation is made in English only: O. REG. 424/97

Public Vehicles Act and Regulations

Operators of buses and motor coaches may also require an operating authority and other insurance requirements under the Public Vehicles Act (PVA). Contact the Ontario Highway Transport Board (OHTB) at 1-416-326-6732 for more information.

See Links below:

• Ontario Highway Transport Board
• Public Vehicles Act
• Insurance Requirements and Regulation made under the Public Vehicles Act: R.R.O. 1990, REGULATION 982. Note that the amount of insurance required is based on passenger seating capacity of each vehicle:
  • $1,000,000, for 1 to 7 passengers
  • $5,000,000, for 8 to 12 passengers
  • $8,000,000, for 13 or more passengers

Motor Vehicle Transport Act

The full Federal Regulation is available on Transport Canada's website.

On January 1, 2006 amendments to the Federal Motor Vehicle Transport Act along with the introduction of the Motor Carrier Safety Fitness Certificate Regulations come into force. Under the new Federal legislation, Ontario will only be registering and rating carriers that have Commercial Motor Vehicles base plated in Ontario, a State of the United States of America or Mexico. These Federal amendments will require changes to the Highway Traffic Act and the Regulations attached. This site cannot provide legal advice or interpret the law. For such assistance, we recommend contacting MTO Carrier Sanctions and Investigation Office. However, a Safety Fitness Certificate (NSC) number issued by your base plate jurisdiction must be produced for your Commercial Motor Vehicle(s) while travelling in Ontario.

Motor Carrier Safety Fitness Certificate Regulations

EXCERPT FROM SECTION 7: INSURANCE FOR EXTRA-PROVINCIAL TRUCK UNDERTAKINGS

1. A provincial authority may not issue a safety fitness certificate to an extra-provincial truck undertaking unless it has written proof that the undertaking holds the minimum liability insurance coverage and endorsement referred to in subsections (2) to (4).
2. In order to cover bodily injury to or death of any person or loss of or damage to property of other persons, other than cargo, an extra-provincial truck undertaking must hold the following minimum liability insurance coverage:
   1. $1,000,000 for each motor vehicle; and
   2. $2,000,000 for each motor vehicle used to transport dangerous goods
      1. that are set out in column 2 of Schedule 1 to the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations, in the quantities referred to in column 6 of that Schedule to those Regulations, and
      2. in respect of which an emergency response assistance plan is required to be filed with the Minister or a designated person, pursuant to Part 7 of the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations.
3. An extra-provincial truck undertaking must ensure that the insurance policy contains an endorsement stating that, at least 15 days before the policy is cancelled or changed or lapses, the insurer agrees to notify the provincial authority with which the written proof of the insurance policy was filed of
   1. the cancellation or non-renewal of the policy; or
   2. any change in the policy that results in the policy no longer providing the minimum liability insurance coverage.
4. An extra-provincial truck undertaking must immediately notify the provincial authority with which the written proof of the insurance policy was filed of any change in the policy, or of any notification by the insurer that the policy will be changed, so that it no longer provides or will no longer provide the minimum liability insurance coverage.