Ministerial Order 2025-05 issued by Québec’s Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, amends a previous order—Ministerial Order 2023-13 of April 15, 2023—related to the Highway Safety Code (chapter C-24.2). The original 2023 order had temporarily suspended the requirement for certain motor vehicles equipped with a video camera and monitor system to also have traditional exterior rear-view mirrors. This suspension, however, was scheduled to expire on June 1, 2025. In light of recent developments, the Minister issued the 2025 order to extend and update the provisions of the exemption, ensuring alignment with new federal regulatory decisions and reinforcing that public safety remains uncompromised.

The legal basis for the Minister’s authority to make this order stems from section 633.2 of the Highway Safety Code. This section empowers the Minister, after consulting the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ), to suspend the application of certain provisions of the Code or related regulations when doing so serves the public interest and does not compromise road safety. It also authorizes the Minister to impose alternative rules that maintain an equivalent level of safety during the period of exemption.

The context for this update centers around new federal permissions. On April 3, 2025, Transport Canada granted Nova Bus Inc. a fresh exemption under section 9 of the federal Motor Vehicle Safety Act, permitting the continued use of video camera and monitor systems instead of exterior mirrors on specific bus models.

Given this federal exemption and its regulatory framework, the Québec Minister found it appropriate to amend the provincial ministerial order accordingly. The 2025 amendment thus updates section 1 of Ministerial Order 2023-13 by specifying the labeling requirements vehicles must meet to be eligible for the mirror exemption. Vehicles must now bear either (a) a label displaying information required under subsection 5 of section 13 of the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations or (b) a compliance or information label stating the exemption as prescribed in subsection 11 of section 6 of the same federal regulations. These revisions harmonize Québec’s regulatory stance with the national exemption framework, minimizing legal inconsistencies and compliance confusion.

Importantly, the Minister concluded that the continuation and amendment of this exemption serves the public interest, particularly as it supports innovation in vehicle design and may contribute to improved safety outcomes through the use of advanced camera systems. The Minister also confirmed, based on input from the SAAQ, that the amended rules maintain a safety standard equivalent to traditional mirror configurations. This order signals a shift in regulatory acceptance toward integrating new technologies into public and commercial vehicle fleets, reflecting a growing confidence in digital systems as reliable replacements for legacy mechanical components.

Quebec (05/2025) May 15, 2025
Disclaimer: Insights are for informational purposes only and do not reflect RRI’s official position or constitute legal opinion.