Vancouver: The Vancouver Port Authority (VPA) today commended the Canada Marine Act Review Panel for its report, tabled this week in Ottawa, which recommends wide-ranging changes to the federal legislation that governs the country's 19 national port authorities.



"It was made very clear over the course of the Review Panel's national consultation with marine transportation stakeholders that there is a strong consensus in this country about the changes that must be made to keep Canada's ports strong, growing and competitive," said Captain Gordon Houston, Vancouver Port Authority President and Chief Executive Officer. "It's very gratifying to see that consensus reflected in the recommendations that this expert, independent panel has made to the federal Transportation Minister David Collenette."



The VPA has led an active coalition of port, transportation, government and economic interests across Canada calling for fundamental changes to the Canada Marine Act. The principal benefit of the legislative amendments sought by the VPA, and endorsed by the Canada Marine Act Review Panel this week, would be enhanced access to private and public capital for port infrastructure expansion.



Houston notes that improved access to capital is critical to the future growth and competitiveness of Port Vancouver, Canada's largest seaport, which is facing competitive threats from rival ports in the United States notably Seattle and Tacoma, which are subsidized by federal, state and local governments.



"The Review Panel report tackles the issues of access to capital, infrastructure investment and competitiveness in a very comprehensive and constructive manner," he said. "Just as importantly, it reinforces a message that every elected official in this country must understand that ports are absolutely fundamental elements of our national transportation infrastructure, and must be actively supported if our economy and our international trade are going to continue to grow."



Houston said the VPA's next challenge will be to work with the federal government to ensure that the recommendations made by the Canada Marine Act Review Panel are enshrined in legislation. "We'll continue to work with our fellow port authorities across the country, with the transportation sector, import and export industries, as well as provincial and local governments, to ensure that these important recommendations ultimately become amendments to the Canada Marine Act."



The Canada Marine Act Review Panel report formally endorses many of the legislative amendments recommended by the Vancouver Port Authority, including:

• public monies should be invested in Canada's national ports, when such investments are clearly in the national interest;
• the federal government must retain responsibility for security at Canada's ports;
• preferred financing mechanisms, such as tax-exempt bonds, should be considered to facilitate port infrastructure investment; and,
• other mechanisms to improve port authorities' access to private capital also be considered.

The Port of Vancouver is Canada's largest and most diversified port, trading $29 billion in goods with 90 trading economies each year. Port activities generate 62,000 jobs in total with $1.6 billion in Gross Domestic Product and $3.5 billion in economic output. Last year 62.8 million tonnes were shipped through the Port of Vancouver.



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View the Canada Marine Act Review Panel report in its entirety.



For more information, please contact:

Anne McMullin,
Director, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs
Vancouver Port Authority
(604) 665-9069 (office)
(604) 665-9073 (fax)
(604) 218-1403 (cellular)
anne.mcmullin@portvancouver.com

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