Thank you.
Thank you for the opportunity to contribute to your work on Bill C‑39.
The current framework still limits the agility of port authorities when they want to collaborate, coordinate their investments, diversify their operations and revenues or finance their growth. A number of policies in Bill C‑39 are a step in the right direction in providing more commercial and financial flexibility.
Ports are not just dock and land managers. They are drivers of economic development that must be able to invest, establish new partnerships and contribute to the performance of the entire supply chain.
However, to do that, we need a stable work environment that can provide good working conditions, but also maintain business confidence.
The Port of Montreal welcomes the government's intention to modernize the framework governing Canada's strategic infrastructure. We support the objectives of this initiative—greater port agility, stronger collaboration and more reliable supply chains—without offering blanket support for every provision of the bill.
Canadian ports need the tools to maintain and develop efficient infrastructure that serves Canadians, businesses and the economy.
This modernization comes at an important time for Canada's economic sovereignty. Our trade with the world starts at our ports, and as the country strengthens its trade ties with Europe, the Port of Montreal is a strategic gateway to that market, as it already is for Asia, but also for Africa.
It is important to remember that the Montreal Port Authority is neither the employer nor the employee representative, and it is not a party to collective bargaining. What we do is non-partisan. Its purpose is to ensure stable and predictable port operations for the benefit of Canada.
In the maritime sector, the mere threat of a shutdown can divert goods, as trade routes are chosen weeks or months in advance. Early intervention and proactive mediation can foster lasting negotiated settlements.
Our position remains balanced. The idea is not to reduce the negotiating power of either party, but to take maritime reality into account. A 72-hour notice provides little visibility when a ship from Europe can take about 14 days to reach Montreal. The mechanisms chosen must preserve healthy labour relations while giving businesses the predictability they need to continue choosing Canadian routes.
In marine transportation, reliability is a competitive advantage. When uncertainty persists, cargo is often redirected to U.S. ports. Once those volumes move to reliable alternatives, they are extremely difficult to recover. As Canada diversifies its international markets, success will depend on reliable, efficient and competitive Canadian trade corridors.
Lastly, the objectives of the reform must translate into a real ability to act. The changes set out in the bill will have to be reflected in the tools that govern port authorities, especially our letters patent.
New opportunities for collaboration will only fully take effect if these tools are adapted. The same goes for trade and financial agility: Ports must be able to diversify their revenues, invest and develop more integrated models. The modernization and harmonization of the letters patent will therefore be very critical.
To maximize the benefits of the expansion in Contrecoeur, but also to generate the revenue needed to maintain the infrastructure, as requested in our letters patent, we need to be able to diversify our revenues and think like a company that needs to secure its future.
The challenge will be to turn Bill C‑39 from legislation into action quickly and in a manner adapted to port realities. The world is changing, and ports also need to be able to adapt.
This reform is an opportunity to strengthen port agility, supply chain reliability and Canada's competitiveness. Its implementation must deliver concrete, practical tools.
The Port of Montreal stands ready to contribute constructively. This is primarily the message we wanted to get across today, so we're open to any questions going forward.
Thank you.