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The Full Cost Investigation on Transportation in Canada

The Full Cost Investigation of Transportation in Canada

The Full Cost Investigation is a multi-year project launched by Transport Canada at the beginning of 2004 with the support of provincial and territorial departments of transport. Representatives of these departments are collaborating in the investigation within a Steering Committee under the Planning and Policy Support Committee of the Council of Deputy Ministers Responsible for Transportation and Highway Safety.

The investigation of the « full costs » of transportation includes the comprehensive financial and social costs associated with infrastructures, services, vehicles, and with the movement of people and goods. Social costs refer to the costs of accidents, congestion delays and environmental damages. The estimations of the full cost of transportation in Canada are summarizes in the final report.

One of the objectives of this project is to be able to make realistic comparisons between different modes for representative routes or shipments. Another objective is to identify who bears the costs of transportation.

In order to complete this project by the deadline, the issue of absolute and relative benefits and advantages of transportation has been excluded from the scope of the project. Eventually, this important dimension will have to be incorporated to include in the analysis not only the full cost but also the economic and social benefits of the sector.

The first set of cost estimates covering the year 2000 was published in a synthesis report in August of 2008. In the interim, a team of analysts with the support of a Federal-Provincial working group, completed another set of cost estimates for the year 2006. These second cost estimates series were developed after adopting significant methodological improvements that were identified during a review process following the first set of cost estimates.

To allow comparisons of the years 2000 and 2006 on the same basis, estimates for 2000 were re-done using the improved methodologies. A summary report is being prepared to publish the results of this examination.

Date modified:
2011-09-24