Introduction The Canadian Transportation Agency's mandate includes an authority to resolve various transportation disputes and complaints. The Agency, a quasi-judicial body, is committed to enhancing its service by seeking new ways to resolve disputes. As of June 2000, the Agency will begin offering mediation services through a pilot project in the Rail and Marine Branch and will provide parties with mediation services at their request. The Agency's goal is to help parties resolve their disputes through mediation as an alternative to a more formal adjudicative process.
Mediation is a voluntary, informal and collaborative process for solving problems.
This process helps parties jointly make decisions about ways to address the issues in dispute, so that they can negotiate a mutually beneficial settlement. The parties to the mediation ultimately determine the utcome. Mediation is a flexible tool that enables parties to collaboratively develop a solution that meets their needs and that might not be available under the adjudicative process. The mediator's role is to centre discussions on interests, not positions, so that parties may negotiate a mutually beneficial settlement. The mediator keeps the discussion focused and improves the lines of communication.