Issue 1 • May-June 2007

Inaugural Address – OMTF – Wayne Smith

Welcome to the first-ever issue of the Ontario Marine Transportation Forum’s [OMTF] newsletter.

As you may well know, OMTF, founded in December, 2004, has taken great strides, in working with the government of Ontario and other partners, toward building a vibrant, efficient, safe, environmentally-friendly and fully integrated transportation system with the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Waterway for the benefit of the province of Ontario.

However, challenges still lie ahead. Ontario, like many of its neighbours, is still facing transportation bottlenecks on its roads and borders. The marine industry itself faces several challenges – not the least of which has been the reduction in scope of the Federal government’s support of marine transportation infrastructure and services over the last ten years. The truth remains that Ontario’s marine transportation system is functioning far below full capacity.

To meet these challenges, the OMTF has brought together key players to work with government. My hope is that this newsletter will provide the opportunity to highlight OMTF’s many successes, heighten the profile of Ontario’s marine industry and be a forum to discuss and inform about upcoming initiatives.

I hope that you enjoy our inaugural issue and look forward to many more to come.

Sincerely,

Wayne Smith
President, OMTF

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2006 In Review: The Inaugural Ontario Marine Summit

2006 proved to be a progressive year for Ontario’s marine transportation industry, with the first-ever Ontario Marine Summit being held in Toronto on November 28.

Approximately 60 leaders from the marine transportation industry and senior officials from the Governments of Ontario, Canada and Quebec participated in the day-long event, which was co-chaired by the Minister of Transportation, Donna Cansfield, and Wayne Smith, the President of the Ontario Marine Transportation Forum [OMTF].

As a result of the day’s discussions, several top priorities emerged, such as the need to articulate a comprehensive, Ontario-focused marine policy.

Others included:

1. Developing an Ontario Ports Strategy as an impetus for economic development and to improve transportation efficiency.
2. Creating an Ontario focused research capability to support the development of marine transportation projects.
3. Enhancing promotion/branding of marine transportation.
4. Supporting provincial marine education requirements by supporting college funding requirements.

Minister Cansfield showed her continual support for marine transportation when she stressed the importance of the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes as an essential component of Ontario’s transportation sector.

Ontario Marine Summit Results

Leading up to the summit, an OMTF Ontario Inter-Ministerial group was formed to ensure the day’s identified priorities were followed up and acted upon. Members of this table include representatives from the following ministries: Public Infrastructure Renewal, Economic Development and Trade, Environment, Northern Development and Mines, Intergovernmental Affairs and Democratic Renewal, Natural Resources, Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and Training Colleges and Universities.

In addition, an Ontario Marine Transportation Advisory Panel has been created by Minister Cansfield with the goal of providing government with critical information and advice on marine freight movement in the Great Lakes St-Lawrence region of Ontario. The panel, who will have their inaugural meeting this May, is structured to represent a broad cross-section of interests, including domestic carriers, international carriers, marine shippers, the seaway, major ports, regional ports and the environment.

In addition, the Ontario Ministry of Transportation is hosting the Sustainable Trans Forum on May 28-29, 2007 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

This event will include over 30 speakers from across Canada and around the world who  will cover topics such as building sustainable communities, encouraging more active forms of transportation and transit use, using market based strategies to affect change, adapting infrastructure to address the challenges of climate change, and enhancing the efficiency of all modes of transportation.

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The Port of Thunder Bay – Looking to the Future

Since its introduction into the world of seaway transportation more than a century ago, the Port of Thunder Bay (PTB) has played an integral role in both Ontario and Canada’s economy.

Beginning operations in 1884, upon receiving its first grain elevator, the PTH quickly became recognized as a primary loading point for Canadian grain exports and even held the distinction of being the world’s largest grain port in the 1980’s.

Despite a decreasing emphasis on grain transportation in the last decade, the TBP continues to operate 9 grain terminals with a combined storage capacity of 1.4 million tones, the largest in any single North American location.

A result of the loss of inbound general cargo in the early 1980’s, only 5 per cent of the port’s shipments are inbound. However, officials at the port are always looking for ways to best to capitalize on innovative developments, such as Alberta’s oil sands.

“Since metals for the module development are imported to the port anyways, many believe the port would be an ideal location for the product’s fabrication,” said Tim Heney, the Chief Executive Officer for the Thunder Bay Port Authority. “It’s a booming industry and one that we think the Port of Thunder Bay could become a part of.”

Currently, Thunder Bay ranks as the 9th largest of the 19 Canadian Port Authorities, shipping a total of 8.5 million metric tones in 2006 and is the second largest Canadian port on the Great Lakes.

With an impressive past and a bright future in the horizon, the TBP shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

“I think that the port is going to certainly be here long into the future,” said Heney. “I think you are going to see more of that inbound activity as the highways become more constrained and the demand for transportation increases, the Seaway will begin to realize more and more its potential.”

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Ontario government announces $3 million for Georgian College Marine Training Centre

Up until receiving a crucial $3 million from Ontario’s Liberal government, it was sink or swim for Georgian College’s marine program.

“We would have been forced to shut down the program,” said campus dean Jay Notay. “That’s how significant this is. We wouldn’t have had any choice. We wouldn’t have been certified to deliver our programs, period.”

Minister of Transportation Donna Cansfield and Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities Chris Bentley committed $3 million in a partnership approach with Georgian College, Transport Canada Marine Safety and industry stakeholders to the overall $7 to 8 million capital equipment upgrade to Ontario’s only approved marine training centre in Owen Sound.

Had the program not received the funds, it would have had to close its doors to new students come September because it was unable to meet new Transport Canada training standards, said Notay.

The critical funding was announced aboard the Great Lakes freighter Stephen B. Roman in the Toronto Harbour by Cansfield and Bentley on April 26.

“The McGuinty government supports sustainable transportation that includes all modes of transportation to ease congestion and keep Ontario prosperous,” said Cansfield. “That’s why the government is providing funding to help make Georgian College’s Owen Sound campus one of the best-equipped marine training facilities in Canada.”

Cansfield added that the viability of the marine industry needs to stay in Ontario “because those Great Lakes, that H20 Highway is ours.”

Brian Tambyln, the President and CEO of Georgian College, said the money will ensure that Ontario’s marine industry prospers into the future.

“These necessary upgrades allow the College and the marine industry at large to keep up with the demand for skilled marine professionals. With this funding, we can better address the educational needs of an industry that contributes greatly to our economy and quality of life,” said Tamblyn.

The new 10,000 square-foot training centre, which costs $8.5 million, will serve up to 140 full-time marine navigation or engineering students and around 1,000 mariners annually working to upgrade their skills.

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Marine Transportation – An Environmentally Friendly Alternative

An alternative to over-congested highways and abundant traffic surrounds us.

Ontario’s marine industry has the resources and venue to relieve over-crowded roads and railways, all the while taking a load off our already stressed environment.

“Can we continue to only build more highways to accommodate more cars, burn more fuel and spew more emissions? No,” said Minister of Transportation Donna Cansfield. “Marine shipping is safe, creates very little noise pollution and provides an environmentally sound method of moving goods.”

Green Facts from the Great Blue

• A single ship, having a typical capacity of 25,000 tonnes, is equivalent to about 275 rail cars and 875 trucks.
• Marine transportation is more environmentally friendly than rail and trucks as a result of lower fuel consumption.

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Founding Members of the Forum include; The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation, Windsor Port Authority, Seaway Marine Transport, Hamilton Port Authority, Thunder Bay Port Authority, Chamber of Maritime of Commerce and the Toronto Port Authority, Federal Marine Terminals, McKeil Marine Limited and Canada Steamship Lines.