Location: National
Issue/Source: Bill C-33 An Act to amend the Customs Act, the Railway Safety Act, the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, 1992, the Marine Transportation Security Act, the Canada Transportation Act and the Canada Marine Act and to make a consequential amendment to another Act was tabled on November 17, 2022
Date: February 13, 2023
Suggested responses
- Canada’s transportation system is the backbone of the Canadian economy, and is responsible for the safe, secure, and efficient transportation of goods.
- The Government of Canada recognizes that it must take is needed to support efficient and resilient supply chains to ensure Canada’s ongoing prosperity.
- Bill C-33 would optimize traffic management at Canada Port Authorities, including anchorages, and would ease congestion by facilitating investment into inland ports.
- It would also ensure structured relationships between ports and Indigenous and local communities to foster ongoing dialogue and inform decision making.
- The proposed amendments would better integrate environmental considerations into port authority planning and decision-making, while enhancing transparency on environmental performance.
- It would also provide clarity and predictability to attract critical port investment.
- The proposed amendments will modernize Canada’s marine security framework by adding new legislative tools and enforcement authorities to support the continued resilience of the marine transportation system.
- Furthermore, Bill C-33 would improve customs activities by reducing delays, lowering costs, while enhancing security.
- Bill C-33 would also strengthen rail safety and support the efficiency of Canada’s railway system.
- Canadians need efficient and resilient supply chains, and I strongly encourage the members of this House to pass this important legislation.
Background Information
- An efficient and resilient transportation supply chain is key to expanding Canada’s economic capacity and productivity. The proposed legislative amendments under the Strengthening the Port System and Railway Safety in Canada Act, aims to amend current legislation and modernize the way Canada’s marine and rail transportation systems operate and remove systemic barriers. As a result, these amendments would strengthen our transportation supply chain and would respond to the rising cost of living.
- A secure transportation system supports the ongoing resilience of Canada’s supply chain. The proposed legislative amendments to the Marine Transportation Security Act will increase flexibility though the introduction of new legislative authorities which are aligned with other Transport Canada legislation. The enhancements will also better position the Department to address emerging challenges, such as biosecurity risks, through the introduction of new regulatory authorities and cybersecurity challenges by leveraging the capacity of other organizations to oversee security requirements. This framework will be supported by a modernized enforcement regime to promote ongoing compliance.
- In addition to the creation of a Supply Chain Task Force and the publication of its final report earlier this Fall, two separate, mode-specific reviews had already been initiated: the Ports Modernization Review launched in 2018, and the Railway Safety Act Review launched in 2017.
- Collectively, these measures would situate these two interdependent modes—rail and marine—to be better positioned to help improve the competitiveness of Canada’s transportation supply chains.