West Coast ports move towards unified port authority

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VANCOUVER, B.C. — The leaders of the Lower Mainland’s three gateway ports continue to make progress toward the development of a single Canada Port Authority to manage marine and inter-modal trade through southern B.C.

The chairs, board members and CEOs of the Vancouver Port Authority, Fraser River Port Authority and North Fraser Port Authority have held discussions about the formation of a new integrated port authority since July 2006, at the request of federal Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon. The three ports announced that a comprehensive business case for the proposed merger would be presented well ahead of its year-end target completion date.

“We have long believed that Canada as a trading nation has a great deal to gain by encouraging greater planning and operational coordination among its major gateway ports in British Columbia,” said George Adams, chair of the Vancouver Port Authority. “As we explore the issues and opportunities more fully with our colleagues at Fraser River Port and North Fraser Port, the benefits of a more collaborative and cohesive
strategy for managing southern B.C.’s port assets have become even clearer.”

All three ports agree that a single port authority has the potential to capture an even larger share of North America’s rapidly expanding trade with Asia Pacific economies, as well as creating efficiencies for port users and Canadian businesses.

“We are all extremely pleased to see this initiative underway and proceeding so rapidly,” said Peter Podovinikoff, chair of the Fraser River Port Authority.

“The efficiencies and incremental growth we can achieve at Lower Mainland ports through an integrated management structure will make a positive contribution to the Pacific Gateway Strategy goals benefiting not only British Columbia’s economy, but companies and workers right across the country,” stated Doug Butterworth, chair of the North Fraser River Port Authority.

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