Evidence of meeting #85 for International Trade in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was ports.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Bloc
Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC
You say that the group hasn't been set up, but as part of another structure or working group—I don't know what the process would be—has any research or study been done to determine what the challenges and opportunities for Canadian ports will be over the next 10 years?
Bloc
Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC
I remind you that this brief was submitted five years ago. When I talk about the next 10 years, I am talking about 10 years from five years ago.
Director General, Marine Policy, Department of Transport
As announced in the course of Bill C-33, we are undertaking work regarding the complementarity of ports, and that work is under way. We will then be looking at things that will include work around the opportunities, challenges, risks and opportunities associated with collaboration.
Bloc
Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC
In the same brief, the Association of Canadian Port Authorities committed to creating a working group focused on the common development of technologies to increase the efficiency of supply chains. That included Transport Canada.
So I'm asking the same question, even though it wasn't your initiative.
Since there was talk of including you in that group, do you know if that group has been created?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
Hold on for one second. I'm sorry to interrupt. The bells have started ringing.
Do I have unanimous consent to continue on until 10 minutes prior to the vote?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
Thank you.
We will continue. You have my apologies for the interruption.
Liberal
NDP
Bloc
Assistant Deputy Minister, Supply Chain Office , Department of Transport
My colleagues may say more, but I'd simply say that we are trying to and are engaged regularly with the port authorities at multiple levels. There is a lot of innovation, including digital initiatives, going on at the various Canadian port authorities. They have different capacities, understandably, owing to their size. We are encouraging them to work together.
I met with them, in fact, with my colleagues yesterday. Rather than a working group, we're trying to make it ongoing work that we do with them. They are an integral part of the supply chain system.
Bloc
Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC
However, the creation of the task force, which was a 2018 commitment, has not been fulfilled, if I understand correctly.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Supply Chain Office , Department of Transport
I apologize. I'm not familiar with that. I'd have to return—
Bloc
Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC
The idea was that the Department of Transport would be involved in creating this group.
To your knowledge, Transport Canada isn't a member of a group established by the Association of Canadian Port Authorities. Is that correct?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Supply Chain Office , Department of Transport
I'm not aware of that group.
Chief Economist and Director General, Transportation and Economic Analysis, Department of Transport
I'm not aware of that group either.
However, regional initiatives have been put in place. For example, the Port of Montreal, the Port of Trois‑Rivières and the Port of Quebec got together and developed a strategic plan to move forward on various aspects, including logistics and innovation.
Bloc
Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC
Has a digital road map been created or established? Could you tell us more or less what projects will be included?
Chief Economist and Director General, Transportation and Economic Analysis, Department of Transport
Are you talking about port projects, strictly speaking?
Bloc
Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC
First of all, is there a digital road map that has been developed in common with the industry that you're aware of? In other words, is there a plan?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Supply Chain Office , Department of Transport
From what I understand, each port has its own way of doing things.
It's really the local ecosystem. They're often referred to as “port community systems”. The Port of Montreal has worked with its stakeholder community that works in the port. Vancouver has done the same. I'm familiar with initiatives in Halifax and Prince Rupert as well. I can't speak to all of them, but those ports have certainly done their own things.
It's with each of their stakeholder communities that operate in that port, as opposed to a national platform.
Liberal
NDP
Richard Cannings NDP South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC
Thank you for being here today.
I want to start with this. There always seems to be a narrative when there's a labour disruption, as there was in this case. The unions put forward a notice back in 2022 that they wanted to start negotiating. That negotiation started in February and went on into June. They had a strike mandate and then the strike happened.
I want to make the point that, when strikes happen, it's not just the union making that decision. It's management. It's the port, in this case, deciding it would rather go ahead with the strike than give more to the union. It has two sides to it. It's not just a labour disruption. It's not just the choice of labour.
One thing I'd like to know is how the port of Vancouver stacks up to other major ports in Europe, say, or wherever, in terms of labour disruptions. How often do they happen? Is it some characteristic of the Vancouver port, or does it seem to be part of the normal state of affairs in the world?