The Honourable Marc Garneau, P.C., M.P.
It gives me great pleasure to host the Third Joint Ministerial Conference of the Paris and Tokyo Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) on Port State Control.
Participants will meet from May 3 and 4, 2017 in Vancouver, British Columbia, to take a critical step in strengthening our commitment to eliminate sub-standard shipping world-wide. We will clearly demonstrate our dedication to protecting life at sea and the marine environment by signing a Ministerial Declaration:
- To provide for common enforcement of the latest International Maritime Organization (IMO) and International Labour Organization (ILO) standards; and
- To reduce the threat of detention or loss of revenue resulting from substandard shipping operations.
The Declaration will further raise public confidence in the marine shipping mode and the operating environment for industry. Both are critical to supporting the smooth flow of global maritime trade and investment.
Port State Control is one of the most effective international initiatives that have been undertaken by governments around the world. I look forward to meeting you in Vancouver and to furthering our work on this very important endeavour.