VANCOUVER — It’s been relatively smooth sailing at Vancouver’s ports since the summer of 2005, and now the feds are looking to make sure it stays that way.

The federal Transport Minister will conduct a review of the provisions of the amending regulations pertaining to rates for container haulers using the Port of Vancouver before Aug. 1.

On July 31, 2007, the Government of Canada issued the Regulations Amending the Port Authorities Operations Regulations of the Canada Marine Act. Part of the amending regulations require that an owner-operator must be paid the equivalent of a rate established in an existing collective agreement and cannot be paid less than rates set out in the Memorandum of Agreement between trucking companies and the Vancouver Container Truckers Association, dated July 29, 2005.

The current regulations will continue to be in force after Aug. 1. The minister will consider the results of the review to determine whether further amendments are required.

Transport Canada invites interested stakeholders to submit comments related to the amending regulations by mail, fax or electronic mail by June 5, to:

Neil Weatherdon
Senior Policy Advisor, Ports Policy
Transport Canada
Tower C, Place de Ville, 25th Floor
330 Sparks Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0N5
Fax: 613-998-1845
E-mail: neil.weatherdon@tc.gc.ca