OTTAWA, Ont. — Proposed amendments to the Port Authorities Management Regulations would provide a process for two or more Canada Port Authorities (CPAs) to amalgamate and continue as one integrated CPA.

Amalgamation aims to provide an opportunity to make CPAs more modern, efficient, competitive and responsive to emerging global opportunities and challenges.

The 19 CPAs that make up the national system of ports are non-share capital corporations that were incorporated under the 1998 Canada Marine Act (CMA) and mandated to operate according to business principles.

In 2003, the CMA Review report was tabled in Parliament. The statutory five-year review of the act provided stakeholders with an opportunity to present their views on the CMA as well as on the overall functioning of the marine sector.

The report suggested that changes were needed to achieve the goals of the CMA, particularly as they related to promoting and safeguarding Canada’s competitiveness and trade obligations. One broadly supported recommendation was that CPAs be permitted to amalgamate.

The proposed changes were published in the Canada Gazette, Part I on Feb. 17, which began a 30-day period for public comments.