Having come into force in 2003, the Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada Act (TATC Act) states that the Tribunal has jurisdiction in respect of reviews and appeals as expressly provided in federal transportation legislation (s. 2).
The TATC Act outlines the transportation and/or medical expertise required by Tribunal Members and describes the constitution of both Review and Appeal Hearings (ss. 12 to 15). The TATC Act also sets out the powers of the Tribunal and its Members (ss. 16 and 18).
Additionally, the TATC Act addresses many procedural aspects of the Tribunal process. The TATC Act includes a provision to relax the rules of evidence before the Tribunal (s. 15(1)) and also a provision which sets out the burden of proof that a party before the Tribunal must meet (s. 15(5)).
The TATC Act also allows for representation of the parties before the Tribunal (s. 15(3)) and acknowledges the Tribunal's adherence to the open court principle (s. 15(4)).
Another important aspect of the TATC Act is encompassed in s. 18, which allows the Tribunal to make rules to govern the management of its affairs and its practices and procedures in connection with matters before it.