June 23, 2005
For Immediate Release

Association welcomes opportunity to amend the Canada Marine Act

The Association of Canadian Port Authorities is pleased that the Minister of Transport, the Hon. Jean-C. Lapierre, has introduced Bill C-61, An Act to Amendment the Canada Marine Act, in the House of Commons.

It is unclear whether or not the proposed amendments will meet the needs of Canada’s major ports as it continues to deal with extensive growth, both nationally and internationally. This growth has given rise to the need for Canada’s major ports, the 19 Canada Port Authorities, to address growing business demands related to infrastructure, trade, real property and sustainable development. Ports must compete in a highly competitive marketplace on all coasts and in order to do so it must have the right public policy environment. The introduction of the Canada Marine Act (CMA) in 1998 commercialized Canada’s major ports and created the 19 Canada Port Authorities that now handle over 250 million tonnes of cargo annually, valued at more than $120 billion. In order for CPAs to continue to grow and handle the projected increase in trade volumes the CMA needs to be properly updated.

All members of the Association were pleased two years ago when the Canada Marine Act Review Panel completed it’s five-year mandatory review of the Act. At that time the Panel conducted countrywide consultations receiving more than 140 submissions. Its final report, The Canada Marine Act: Beyond Tomorrow, was well received by all in the industry. . “The Association looks forward to working with the Transport Standing Committee to incorporate the positive recommendations of the CMA Review Panel,” said Gordon Houston, President and CEO of the Vancouver Port Authority, and Chair of the Association. Mr. Houston went on to say that, “Since the introduction of the Canada Marine Act in 1999, Canada Port Authorities have been stronger and have been making a positive contribution to the growth of both domestic and international trade. The process of regulatory amendment now begun will afford the port community an excellent opportunity to revisit the key issues for Canada’s major ports and determine what must be done to ensure Canada’s National Ports System is strong, agile and ready to compete.”

While Canada Port Authorities are now ‘commercial’ and ‘self-sufficient’, with no direct funding provided by the federal government, they must still contribute to significant public policy outcomes under the Canada Marine Act. As noted in the proposed amendments under Section 4 of the Act, CPAs must manage their business, “To offer effective support for the achievement of local, regional and national social and economic objectives and will promote and safeguard Canada’s competitiveness and trade objectives.” Captain Houston notes that, “Other businesses are not faced with the same challenges with respect to operating as private entities while mandated to achieve public policy objectives. However, CPAs have proven that they can rise to the challenge given the track record and impressive growth over the past six years.”

The Association will now be reviewing all aspects of the proposed amendments with a view to ensuring Canada’s major ports continue to operate successfully and look forward to obtaining the necessary and appropriate amendments to the Canada Marine Act.

For more information please contact:
Gary LeRoux
Executive Director
Association of Canadian Port Authorities

Phone: (613) 232-2036

The Association of Canadian Port Authorities was founded in 1958 and groups together ports and harbours and related marine interests into one, national association. The ACPA is the pre-eminent Association for the advocacy and advancement of the Canadian Port Industry. ACPA members contribute greatly to the local, regional and national economy of Canada with over $100 billion worth of goods handled annually.

- 30 -