1. Opening Remarks

Good afternoon. Bonjour.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, for inviting me to speak with you and the honourable members.

I would like to begin by acknowledging that we’re gathered today on the traditional territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe Peoples.

I’m joined by the following representatives from Transport Canada:

I am pleased to speak to you today about Bill C-33 and how it will support Canada’s next steps to strengthen our transportation supply chain.

Over the last three years, Canada’s supply chain has been put to the test.

The pandemic, increasingly frequent and severe climate events, and Russia’s war against Ukraine have caused–and aggravated–supply chain disruptions.

Canadians have felt the economic impacts of such disruptions.

All of this has underscored the importance of a resilient and efficient supply chain.

That’s why my predecessor created the Supply Chain Task Force last year.

He asked its members to explore ways to make Canada’s supply chain stronger and more reliable.

The Task Force consulted extensively with industry representatives and released a report with key recommendations.

Among them, the development of a National Supply Chain Strategy.

Bill C-33: Strengthening the Port System and Railway Safety in Canada Act will lay the groundwork for such a strategy.

But even before recent challenges, Transport Canada initiated two separate reviews:

The Railway Safety Act Review 2017-18 and the Ports Modernization Review.

Both are now complete, fortified by the lessons of the last few years.

They point to a need for modernizing Canada’s ports and rail systems.

These findings correspond with the timing of our next steps.

I’m committed to making Canada’s multimodal supply chains more reliable and efficient.

And I’m committed to working on the recommendations released in the Supply Chain Task Force Report.

By advancing the Strengthening the Port System and Railway Safety in Canada Act, we can make real progress on this work.

The Act would modernize the tools that Government, ports and railways use to support and respond to the transportation system.

We know that the supply chain is deeply interconnected between various transportation modes.

So, Bill C-33 proposes amendments across them.

These amendments seek to:

Strengthen rail safety and security through an updated framework;
Better equip Canada’s ports for today’s complex needs, including measures to work with Indigenous communities and support Canada’s commitments on climate change;
And further improve the safety and security of moving dangerous goods in Canada.

These measures combined would make Canada’s transportation system safer, more competitive, secure, efficient, and reliable.

Through Bill C-33, we are setting the course, laying the tracks, and planning the best route for a National Supply Chain Strategy.

Mr. Chair, that concludes my opening remarks.

I am happy to answer any questions you may have.

Thank you. Merci.

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