Shared Governance Organizations

NAV CANADA provides civil air navigation services by promoting safety and efficiency through innovation, including new technologies.

Established in 1996 with its head office located in Ottawa, NAV CANADA is the private, not-for-profit organization that provides air traffic control services and operates Canada's civil air navigation system under the Civil Air Navigation Services Commercialization Act. The organization is self-financing, receives no support from government, and relies on fees charged to users of its services.

In particular, NAV CANADA provides aeronautical communication and information services, aeronautical radio navigation services, air traffic control services, aviation weather services, emergency assistance services, and flight information services, in respect of Canadian airspace or any other airspace in respect of which Canada has responsibility for the provision of air traffic control services.

NAV CANADA’s Board of Directors is comprised of 15 directors, at least two-thirds of whom must be Canadian citizens, including the President and Chief Executive Officer:

  • four directors elected by commercial carriers through the National Airlines Council of Canada;
  • one director elected by business and general aviation through the Canadian Business Aviation Association;
  • three directors elected by the Government of Canada;
  • two directors elected by employee unions;
  • four independent directors elected by the Board of Directors;
  • The President and Chief Executive Officer hired by the Board of Directors.

Chairperson:  Michelle Savoy

President and Chief Executive Officer: Raymond G. Bohn

Canada Port Authorities advance the growth and prosperity of the Canadian economy by managing key marine infrastructure and services in a commercial manner, accounting for input from users and local communities. Their core activities focus on shipping and navigation (e.g., transporting goods and passengers). Port Authorities are not acting as “agents of the Crown” as they are not Crown corporations pursuant to the Financial Administration Act.

There are currently 17 Port Authorities federally incorporated under the Canada Marine Act, (see table below). They are autonomous, non-share corporations, that are expected to be self-sufficient and operate independently from the federal government but within the parameters of the Canada Marine Act specified in their Letters Patent.

This act provides the Minister of Transport the authority to establish a regulatory framework regarding marine safety, security, environmental protection, as well as a responsibility to monitor compliance with these frameworks (e.g., prohibit a port authority from certain activities that could impact the soil, water or air quality in the interest of environmental protection).

Each port authority is governed by a board of directors, which is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the organization and overseeing operational decisions, including establishing its management cadre. Boards comprise 7 to 11 representatives appointed by the provincial (1-2) and municipal (1) governments, as well as federal representatives (1) and port user group representatives (4-7) appointed by the Governor in Council upon the recommendation of the Minister. Directors have a fiduciary responsibility to the port authority, and not to their appointing body.

Below is the list of the 17 port authorities and their Chief Executive Officers and Chairpersons.

Port Name

Chief Executive Officer

Chairperson

Belledune Port Authority

Denis D. Caron

Hermel Viennau

Halifax Port Authority

Fulvio Fracassi

David Cameron

Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority

Ian Hamilton

Anne Waldes

Montréal Port Authority

Julie Gascon

Nathalie Pilon

Nanaimo Port Authority

Ian Marr

Michelle Corfield

Port Alberni Port Authority

Zoran Knezevic

Shelly Chrest

Prince Rupert Port Authority

Shaun Stevenson

Peter Lantin

Québec Port Authority

Mario Girard

Olga Farman

Saguenay Port Authority

Carl Laberge

Arthur Gobeil

Saint John Port Authority

Craig Bell Estabrooks

Jack Weir

Sept-Îles Port Authority

Pierre Gagnon

Bernard Lynch

St. John's Port Authority

Sean Hanrahan

Beth McGrath

Thunder Bay Port Authority

Chris Heikkinen

Patrick Bushby

Toronto Port Authority

Roelof-Jan Steenstra

Sandra Pupatello

Trois-Rivières Port Authority

Gaétan Boivin

Véronique Néron

Vancouver Fraser Port Authority

Peter Xotta

Catherine McLay

Windsor Port Authority

Steven C. Salmons

Walter Benzinger

Airport authorities provide airport facilities and related infrastructure to allow commercial air service, including runways, air terminal buildings, baggage handling facilities, check-in facilities, facilities to allow government inspection, and for various ancillary activities.

They are private, not-for-profit, non-share, financially independent capital corporations. They are not Crown corporations, nor Agents of the Crown. Airport authorities are incorporated under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act, the Regional Airports Authorities Act (Alberta), and the Corporations Act (New Brunswick).

There are 21 airport authorities in Canada, designated pursuant to the Airport Transfer (Miscellaneous Matters) Act (see table below). Each airport authority leases its airport(s) from the federal government and is solely responsible for operating, maintaining, and developing the airport(s) in accordance with the terms of the lease between the authority and the federal government.

An airport authority’s board has between 9 and 15 directors who are nominated by: the Minister of Transport (2); the Provincial Government (1); local municipalities (varies); and local non-governmental organizations (varies). Directors have a fiduciary duty to the airport authority and not to the entity that nominated them.

Below is the list of the 21 airport authorities and their Chief Executive Officers and Chairpersons.

Airport Authority

Chief Executive Officer

Chairperson

Aéroport de Québec Inc.

Stéphane Poirier

André Boulanger

Aéroports de Montréal

Yves Beauchamp

Marie-Hélène Nolet

Calgary Airport Authority

Chris Dinsdale

Andrea Robertson

Charlottetown Airport Authority

Doug B. Newson

Steve Loggie

Edmonton Regional Airports Authority

Myron Keehn

Carman McNary

Fredericton International Airport Authority Inc.

Johanne Gallant

Richard Isabelle

Gander International Airport Authority Inc.

Reg Wright

Gene Hedges

Greater London International Airport Authority

Scott McFadzean

Gus Kotsiomitis

Greater Moncton International Airport Authority Inc.

Courtney Burns

Luc Elsliger

Halifax International Airport Authority

Joyce Carter

John S. Fitzpatrick

Greater Toronto Airports Authority

Deborah Flint

Doug Allingham

Ottawa International Airport Authority

Mark Laroche

Bonnie Boretsky

Prince George Airport Authority

Gordon Duke

Derek Dougherty

Regina Airport Authority

James Bogusz

Roger Vanderhooft

Saint John Airport Inc.

Alexander Ross

Susan Harley

Saskatoon Airport Authority

Stephen Maybury

Susan Milburn

St. John's International Airport Authority

Dennis Hogan

David Howe

Thunder Bay International Airports Authority Inc.

Graham Ingham

Gary Woodbeck

Vancouver Airport Authority

Tamara Vrooman

Annalisa King

Victoria Airport Authority

Elizabeth M. Brown

Cathie Ounsted

Winnipeg Airports Authority

Nick Hays

Susan Dawes

The Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority is a binational, shared governance organization that owns and operates the Peace Bridge, an international bridge across the Niagara River connecting Fort Erie, Ontario, and Buffalo, New York. Its mandate is to provide a safe, efficient, environmentally sensitive, and cost-effective conduit of trade and travelers between Canada and the United States.

The Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority was incorporated in 1933 pursuant to the laws of New York. In 1934, the Parliament of Canada enacted An Act respecting the Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Company, which empowered the Authority to acquire, hold and manage the bridge property and assets within Canada.

The Authority operates at arm's-length and is entrusted by the governments of Canada and the State of New York to construct, maintain and operate the Peace Bridge.

The Board of Directors is comprised of five Canadian members and five American members.

Chairperson: Kenneth A. Manning

General Manager: Ron Rienas

The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation is a not-for-profit organization responsible for the safe and efficient movement of goods through the Canadian Seaway facilities.

The St. Lawrence Seaway extends from Montréal to Lake Erie and consists of 15 locks and connecting canals and channels, as well as moving portions of bridges in two sections: the Montréal-Lake Ontario section, which comprises seven locks (five Canadians and two Americans); and the Welland Canal, which includes eight Canadian locks.

The Canadian portion of the Seaway was commercialized in 1998, pursuant to the Canada Marine Act, and responsibility for its management was transferred to the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation. While the Government of Canada retains ownership of Canadian Seaway assets, the Corporation is responsible for operating the Seaway and maintaining, repairing, acquiring and replacing the assets under its administration. Management of the United States portion of the Seaway resides with the United States Department of Transportation through its Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation.

The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation is authorized to charge tolls and generate other revenues to finance its activities, which is supplemented by federal funds provided through a statutory appropriation to eliminate annual deficits.

The Corporation is governed by a nine-member Board of Directors comprising of members appointed by the Minister of Transport; by the Province of Ontario, by the province of Quebec; by each industry class (domestic carriers, international carriers, grain, steel and iron ore and other members); and the President and Chief Executive Officer, who is appointed by the Board.

Chairperson:  Paul Gourdeau

President and Chief Executive Officer: Demetrios (Jim) Athanasiou