Transport Canada Moves To More Fully Align with ICAO

Transport Canada (TC) has issued Interim Order No. 1 (2026) detailing temporary revisions to align Canada's aviation regulations with ICAO-recommended standards. The revisions stem from 2023 and 2025 ICAO audits that revealed several misalignments between Canada’s aviation regulations and ICAO standards. As a result, Canada’s audit score has declined significantly since the last audit. 

In recent years, TC has been developing a series of measures to enhance Canada’s alignment with international standards. These efforts include the use of interim orders as temporary instruments to resolve identified gaps. Over the coming years, several regulatory proposals will be advanced to make these measures permanent. 

The Canadian Business Aviation Association (CBAA) reports that ICAO is scheduled to conduct a follow-up audit in December, providing Canada with an opportunity to improve its score by demonstrating that corrective actions have been implemented. “Greater alignment with international standards supports efficient and competitive aviation operations by reducing conflicting regulatory requirements,” said CBAA. “It also helps safeguard Canada’s reputation, maintain access to international markets, and avoid potential consequences such as increased oversight, operational restrictions, and diminished global confidence.”

As a first step, the interim order addresses ATC phraseology, language proficiency, standards check requirements, and aircraft or vessels in distress. According to the association, Interim Order No. 2 is scheduled to be issued on August 24, and a third will be released next month.