OTTAWA (April 28) — Transport Minister David Collenette announced the establishment of eight new port authorities as Ottawa continues to decentralize control over ports.

The ports are Prince Rupert and Fraser River, B.C.; Trois-Rivieres, Quebec City, Saguenay and Sept-Iles, Que.; Saint John, N.B.; and St. John’s, Nfld. Vancouver, Montreal, and Halifax were named CPAs earlier this year.

The CPAs were created under the Canada Marine Act, which legislated a National Ports System (NPS) made up of independently managed CPAs and the eventual elimination of the Canada Ports Corporation.

The CPAs “will benefit from greater management flexibility, including increased freedom to develop contracts and leases, set tariffs and fees, and borrow money from commercial lenders,” said Collenette. “With greater autonomy, these eight ports will now be able to move more quickly on development projects.”

Authorities will be established for the remaining seven harbour commissions that will form the NPS as they complete the letters patent process, leading to the full implementation of the Act.

In the meantime, the Canada Ports Corporation will continue to directly administer the divisional ports at Belledune, N.B., and Prescott and Port Colborne, Ont.