Yesterday, Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport, chaired a first roundtable in Ottawa with Canada Port Authorities to discuss the port authority system.
In the coming weeks, Transport Canada will host a series of roundtables and meetings with Indigenous peoples, provincial governments, municipalities, broader domestic and international marine stakeholders, and Canadians. The roundtables are the next step in a review of Canada Port Authorities that was announced in March. The review will optimize their role in the transportation system as strategic assets that support inclusive and sustainable growth and trade.
“Ports are a critical part of Canada’s transportation network and trade corridors. They need to remain innovative and competitive in today’s dynamic environment,” said Garneau. “Collaboration with marine stakeholders and Canadians will help shape the future of Canada’s port system, so that it continues to support sustainable and inclusive growth.”
Modernizing Canada’s Port Authorities is connected to the November 2016 announcement of the $1.5 billion Oceans Protection Plan. Transport Canada stated that since a lot has changed since Canada Port Authorities were established in 1998, and as such, the review is essential to charting Canada’s future growth. In 2017, the eighteen Canada Port Authorities were responsible for 60 per cent of commercial cargo volume. Regulation Canada’s ports—especially its freshwater ports—is essential to protecting the country’s waterways from invasive species.
Transport Canada is seeking feedback from Canadians and marine stakeholders about how the ports can turn current and future challenges into opportunities. The public is invited to provide input on the review. Information is available on the letstalktransportation.ca/ports-modernization-review website.
The findings of the review are expected in 2019 and will identify potential policy, legislative and regulatory changes to help Canada Port Authorities remain a critical part of the Canadian economy.
