My colleague Mr. Barsalou-Duval wanted to know what the minister can't do. I don't think he quite got the answer he wanted, or certainly not an elaboration.
One thing we know the minister can do is appoint the chair, and I know that question has been asked a couple of times. The point has been made that already there's tardiness in making appointments to the port authority boards. If the port authorities are to be at arm's length from the government, which is the intention, it seems a step backwards that the government is appointing the chair. Why is this bill reducing the ports' independence in that sense and imposing an “Ottawa knows best” approach?