The future of Canadian shipping
Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2016 10:32 am
Public domain, see http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/ctareview2014/CTAR_Vol1_EN.pd A long read but it shows how valuable Canadian seafarers are. It gets interesting at chapter 10. Italics and bold font are mine.
Pathways: Connecting Canada's Transportation System to the World - Volume 1
Chapter 10: Marine Transport
1.O The Review recommends that the Government of Canada maintain a user-pay approach to ensure continued financing for infrastructure and operational needs, while also taking steps to improve cost competitiveness with comparable jurisdictions by:
a. establishing a uniform and timely process for publicly filing rate and charge increases for all federally-mandated services (pilotage, towing, dredging, port charges, etc);
b. authorizing the Canadian Transportation Agency to review all marine fees on a regular basis in terms of their reasonableness and cost competitiveness, as well as in response to complaints.
2. The Review also recommends that the Government of Canada work with the provinces to further improve cost competitiveness by ensuring that payments in lieu of municipal taxes required of individual port authorities are no greater than for comparable industries.
3. The Review recommends that the Government of Canada strengthen the viability, accountability, and competitiveness of marine ports in Canada by:
a. examining the feasibility and viability of adopting a share-capital structure for Canada Port Authorities, including receiving proposals from institutional investors or private equity investors, accompanied by legislation to enshrine the economic development and trade mandate of ports and to protect the public and national interests;
b. encouraging regional amalgamation of Port Authorities guided by common-user and other principles embodied in the Canada Marine Act;
c. introducing light-touch regulation covering fees, charges, common use of the facilities, and unfair competition by the port against its tenants to protect users;
d. conferring oversight and enforcement of the measures in (c) on the Canadian Transportation Agency.
4. The Review recommends that the Government of Canada act to increase the competitiveness of Canadian shipping and competition in the short sea shipping market by:
a. promoting short sea shipping as a mechanism to alleviate congestion in urban areas and reduce Canada’s growing greenhouse gas and air pollutant emission levels, especially through ports along the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System;
b. modernizing recruiting and training of Canadian seafarers, and improving processes for attracting and certifying foreigner workers with needed skill sets;
c. phasing-out the operating restrictions on the basis of reciprocity in the Coasting Trade Act, beginning immediately with container services; eliminating restrictions altogether within a transition period of no more than seven years;
d. phasing-out all remaining duties on imported vessels within a transition period of no more than seven years to respect Canadian ship-owners’ recent investments in specialized vessels;
e. aligning regulations governing Canadian-flagged ship operators to put them on a competitive basis with international operators who would be gaining access to Canada’s domestic trades. 2nd Canadian Registry… foreign flag and foreign crews!
Pathways: Connecting Canada's Transportation System to the World - Volume 1
Chapter 10: Marine Transport
1.O The Review recommends that the Government of Canada maintain a user-pay approach to ensure continued financing for infrastructure and operational needs, while also taking steps to improve cost competitiveness with comparable jurisdictions by:
a. establishing a uniform and timely process for publicly filing rate and charge increases for all federally-mandated services (pilotage, towing, dredging, port charges, etc);
b. authorizing the Canadian Transportation Agency to review all marine fees on a regular basis in terms of their reasonableness and cost competitiveness, as well as in response to complaints.
2. The Review also recommends that the Government of Canada work with the provinces to further improve cost competitiveness by ensuring that payments in lieu of municipal taxes required of individual port authorities are no greater than for comparable industries.
3. The Review recommends that the Government of Canada strengthen the viability, accountability, and competitiveness of marine ports in Canada by:
a. examining the feasibility and viability of adopting a share-capital structure for Canada Port Authorities, including receiving proposals from institutional investors or private equity investors, accompanied by legislation to enshrine the economic development and trade mandate of ports and to protect the public and national interests;
b. encouraging regional amalgamation of Port Authorities guided by common-user and other principles embodied in the Canada Marine Act;
c. introducing light-touch regulation covering fees, charges, common use of the facilities, and unfair competition by the port against its tenants to protect users;
d. conferring oversight and enforcement of the measures in (c) on the Canadian Transportation Agency.
4. The Review recommends that the Government of Canada act to increase the competitiveness of Canadian shipping and competition in the short sea shipping market by:
a. promoting short sea shipping as a mechanism to alleviate congestion in urban areas and reduce Canada’s growing greenhouse gas and air pollutant emission levels, especially through ports along the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System;
b. modernizing recruiting and training of Canadian seafarers, and improving processes for attracting and certifying foreigner workers with needed skill sets;
c. phasing-out the operating restrictions on the basis of reciprocity in the Coasting Trade Act, beginning immediately with container services; eliminating restrictions altogether within a transition period of no more than seven years;
d. phasing-out all remaining duties on imported vessels within a transition period of no more than seven years to respect Canadian ship-owners’ recent investments in specialized vessels;
e. aligning regulations governing Canadian-flagged ship operators to put them on a competitive basis with international operators who would be gaining access to Canada’s domestic trades. 2nd Canadian Registry… foreign flag and foreign crews!