Ottawa Update
Annette Gibbons, Director General,
Surface Transportation Policy, Transport Canada
November 2, 2011
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Elections
2. Canada and the World
3. Gateways Update
4. Key Current Files
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ELECTIONS
• Majority Conservative Government elected, May 2, 2011
• Several provincial / territorial elections held across the country
• Ontario, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland, Yukon,
Northwest Territories
Conservatives (166)
New Democrats (103)
Liberals (34)
Bloc Québécois (4)
Green Party (1)
Seating plan at the beginning of the Parliament, reflecting the 2011 election results
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NEW MINISTER OF TRANSPORT,
INFRASTRUCTURE, AND COMMUNITIES
• The Honourable Denis Lebel
• First elected to House of Commons
in 2007
• Former mayor, Roberval, Quebec
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CANADA AND THE WORLD
• Convergence of global and domestic pressures are shifting the
conditions for future success:
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Restrained demand growth in U.S.
Strong Canadian dollar and rising energy prices
Increased international competition
Global financial uncertainty
Budget 2012 – Expected federal fiscal restraint
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CANADA AND THE WORLD
Strategic Opportunities for Transport Canada:
• Ensuring policy frameworks respond effectively to global market
trends and support trade growth
• Facilitating trade through transportation infrastructure
investments
• Advancing the Gateways policy as an economic
competitiveness strategy
• Actively engaging Michigan and the U.S. on the new Windsor–
Detroit bridge
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GATEWAYS UPDATE
Prince Rupert
Vancouver
Asia-Pacific Gateway and
Corridor Initiative
Atlantic Gateway
Ontario-Quebec
Continental Gateway
and Trade Corridor
Halifax
Montreal
Windsor
Airport
* Major Container Ports
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ASIA-PACIFIC GATEWAY AND CORRIDOR
• Since 2006 launch, significant progress has been made :
– Federal investment of $1.4B leveraged $3.5B in publicprivate investments for
– 47 priority infrastructure projects have benefited from
funding
• Going forward, the Asia-Pacific Gateway focus is to…
– Continue to implement the APGCI mandate
– Address more systematic improvements
– Continue to support areas providing high-efficiency gains with
modest investments,
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ATLANTIC GATEWAY AND
TRADE CORRIDOR
Released in March 2011, the Strategy is an action plan balancing
immediate measures and longer-term directions designed to focus ongoing
efforts by all public and private sector partners toward the optimization of Atlantic
Canada’s transportation systems in support of international trade.
 $250 million has been committed to infrastructure investments from
the federal Gateways and Border Crossings Fund (GBCF). With
provincial and private sector contributions, this leverages a total of
$600 million for Atlantic Canada infrastructure investments
 $5 million was committed from the GBCF to support Atlantic Gateway
strategic international marketing activities
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CONTINENTAL GATEWAY
• Federal accomplishments since 2007:
• Nearly $4 billion has been committed to infrastructure investments
in Ontario and Quebec by the federal government to support the
Continental Gateway
• Key infrastructure investments & commitments in Ontario include:
$1.0 billion Windsor-Detroit Crossing
$10M Blue Water Bridge
$62M Queenston-Lewiston Bridge
$29.9M Highway 8 - Kitchener
$1.0M Peace Bridge Plaza
$10.1M Windsor Port Authority
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CONTINENTAL GATEWAY
• Federal accomplishments since 2007:
• Policy, regulatory and other measures:
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Modified Tariff rules regarding customs treatment of imported cargo containers
Elimination of 25% duty on certain foreign-built vessels
Amendments to the Canada Marine Act
Blue Sky Policy/bilateral air liberalization (ongoing)
• Business environment: creating the right conditions for trade and
growth:
– Elimination of many manufacturing tariffs -- Tariff-Free Zone for manufacturers
– Free trade agreements under negotiation, e.g., European Union, India
• “Partners are currently working together
towards releasing the strategy.”
-Minister Denis Lebel
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OTHER KEY PRIORITIES
• Detroit River International Crossing (DRIC) / NITC
– Canada fully committed to a new bridge between Windsor and Detroit
– Continue to explore options for delivering new crossing with Michigan and U.S.
• Rail Freight Service Review
– 6 month facilitation process on service agreements and a commercial dispute
resolution process between railways and stakeholders
• Canada-U.S. Vision for Perimeter Security and Economic
Competitiveness
– Tremendous work to identify specific initiatives for the Action Plan
– Transport Canada and CBSA have been an integral part of the process
– Waiting for release by Leaders
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OTHER KEY PRIORITIES
• Regulatory Cooperation Council
– Also announced February 4 by the Prime Minister and President
– Objective: “…better align our regulatory approaches… make it easier for
Canadian and American firms to do business on both sides of the border…”
• “Smart Corridors” / Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)
–
Working with Quebec and Ontario to develop a suite of technological
transportation solutions along strategic corridors
• Cost of Compliance for Canada-U.S. Trans-Border Trucking
– Costs of complying with border rules and analysis of transit times at key
crossings
– Expected completion: early 2012
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OTHER KEY PRIORITIES
• New Long-Term Infrastructure Plan
– Budget 2011 commitment:
“The Government will work with provinces, territories, the
Federation of Canadian Municipalities and other stakeholders to
develop a long-term plan for public infrastructure that extends
beyond the expiry of the Building Canada plan.”
– Key challenges to address:
– Infrastructure deficit
– Fostering economic growth and competitiveness
– Social well-being
– Greater private sector involvement and P3s / innovative financing
– Consultations will begin soon with provinces and other stakeholders
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CONCLUSION
• The efforts of the TBWG are appreciated by Ottawa
• The relationships, collaboration, and information-sharing that the
TBWG facilitates are highly valued
• The TBWG will continue to be important to our future joint
Canada-U.S. border transportation efforts
• Thank-you and keep up the good work!
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Questions?
Annette Gibbons,
Director General, Surface Transportation Policy
Transport Canada
annette.gibbons@tc.gc.ca
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