According to a recent news release from Transport Canada, seat belts will be mandatory on all newly built medium and large highway buses starting September 1st, 2020. 

They say seat belts have a strong and proven record of saving lives and are bringing in the new standards and rules to improve safety on Canadian roads. 

"We’ve all heard the message to buckle up over the years, and I think it’s time we brought this approach to highway buses too," Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport was quoted saying in the release. "By having seat belts on highway buses, we can help reduce injuries in severe collisions, such as rollovers, and improve safety for everyone."

Transport Canada first proposed the change in 2017 but it seems the conversation didn't come back into the forefront until the tragic accident involving the Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team, where 16 people were killed and thirteen injured in a collision with a semi.

Earlier this week, a lawsuit filed by the parents of one of the Broncos players asked for a court order requiring all buses carrying sports teams in Saskatchewan to be equipped with seatbelts.

"Overall, buses are a safe means of transportation; however, seat belts can improve safety even further by helping prevent passengers from being ejected during a collision or rollover," the Transport Canada release said. 

Transport Canada defines medium and large buses as having a weight over 4,536 kg and said that Small buses, with the exception of school buses, already have lap and shoulder belts.

The department said the new requirements will not apply to school buses as they are already designed to protect school children in the event of a crash; however, school bus operators can install them on a voluntary basis, so long as they meet Transport Canada’s requirements.