The Canadian Marine Advisory Council (CMAC) concluded its Spring 2019 meeting.
CFA participated in some of the committees, including:
Presentations can, upon request, be sent out to CFA members. Please contact kbaldwin@canadianferry.ca for further the documents.
The federal government created a Marine Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC). The intent is to facilitate dialogue surrounding the opportunities and challenges facing the Canadian Marine Industry.
Federal participants include Public Services and Procurement Canada, National Defence, Canadian Coast Guard, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Transport Canada and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.
Industry participants include various industry associations and some companies.
The Canadian Ferry Association (CFA)'s CEO, Serge Buy, made a presentation to the Senate of Canada Standing Committee on Energy, Environment and Natural Resources in relation to Bill C-69.
Information provided by Transport Canada would have cable ferries subject to Major Work Orders under Bill C-69. This would increase the burden for operators with no real safety benefit.
CFA asked the Committee to amend the legislation and provide more clarity.
The presentation can be viewed here from time 8:08:54 to 9:08:49.
The Canadian Ferry Association (CFA) is pleased with measures announced in the 2019 Budget.
Support for Eastern ferries on routes where the federal government has a constitutional and historical responsibility has been strengthened. Indeed, the federal government is extending the Canada Ferry Services Contribution program until 2022 and plans to procure three new ferries - one for Marine Atlantic (between Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia), one to replace the MV Madeleine (between Québec and PEI) and the other to replace the MV Holiday Highland (between PEI and Nova Scotia).
The government is also investing further resources in infrastructure projects and we expect the eligibility criteria to enable support for some projects related to ferries.
CFA is concerned that duty redemption for the refit/repairs of passenger vessels has not yet been granted. The existing 25% duty is a barrier for ferry owners and operators to upgrade their fleets in order to better protect the environment (such as switching to LNG) or to limit underwater radiated noises (especially for Southern Resident Killer Whales on the West Coast and belugas in the Gulf of Saint-Lawrence). We look forward to a continued discussion on this issue.
Other measures related to pilotage modernization, the Transportation Appeal Tribunal and support for tourism are positive steps taken by the government.