OTTAWA, Ont. — The federal government has announced its intentions to amalgamate the port authorities in B.C.s Lower Mainland.

As part of a coordinated effort between the Vancouver Port Authority, the Fraser River Port Authority and the North Fraser Port Authority, the federal government has issued a certificate of intent to amalgamate, which requires these port authorities to combine and continue as one port authority, to be called the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority.

This certificate was published in the Canada Gazette, Part I on June 16.

“Integration of these ports is a key policy measure under Canada’s Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative,” said Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. “It could also enhance Canada’s competitiveness in the global trade environment, and may be the most effective means of maximizing port efficiencies and optimizing port planning.”

The issue of the certificate of intent to amalgamate and its publication in the Canada Gazette, Part I is the first formal step towards amalgamation.

The next step will be the publication of a notice of the certificate of intent in newspapers in B.C., which will begin a 30-day public comment period. Newspaper publication and public commentary is part of a larger strategy being pursued by Transport Canada and the port authorities to actively engage stakeholders and to seek their views on the proposed amalgamation.

“This is a major step towards building a world-class gateway that is a driving force in Canada’s logistics chain,” said Sarah Morgan-Silvester, chair of the Amalgamation Transition Committee. “We will be better positioned to maximize regional benefits, mitigate impacts of growth, and lead sustainability.”

On May 30, changes to the Port Authorities Management Regulations were published in the Canada Gazette, Part II and are now in effect. These changes add provisions setting out the process for two or more port authorities to amalgamate.