Issue 2 • July-August 2007
Port of Windsor – A Bright Past, Present and Future
The Port of Windsor
Only minutes from the US border and nestled in the heart of the Great Lakes Seaway, the Port of Windsor remains an essential vessel in the lifeblood of Canada’s shipping industry.
This central location, noted David Cree, president and CEO of the Windsor Port Authority, is one of the port’s greatest assets.
“I think one advantage is our location. We are so close to the American market, as well as a huge Canadian market, being only four hours away by truck or rail from the Greater Golden Horseshoe,” said Cree.
The third largest Canadian Great Lakes port in terms of shipments, cargos entering and leaving the port include aggregates, salt, grain, fluorspar, lumber, steel, petroleum, vehicles and heavy lift equipment.
Particularly, stone entering the port continues to be a main commodity as Highway expansion and construction projects, including a 40 km expansion of a Windsor highway, continue.
“That stretch of highway is being improved and the stone for that is coming through the port, so that is certainly an important regional issue for the city that is going to enhance the capability for trucks to cross the border without delay,” said Cree, who noted that, over the past decade alone, shipments of goods through the Port have increased 38% from 4.2 million tonnes to 5.8 million tonnes.
However, as bottlenecks on our roads persist and automobile emissions raise environmental concerns, education about marine transportation remains vital, noted Cree.
“It is important not to overlook all the important work that is going on, but realize that there is significant room for growth at really no cost to the provincial government,” said Cree. “ The province of Ontario doesn’t have to go out and build any new roads and the Federal government doesn’t have to build anymore locks. The capacity and infrastructure is already there.”
Georgian Marine Program Sails Past Funding Maelstrom
Georgian College’s marine transportation program was given a breath of life this spring, thanks to a provincial funding commitment of $3 million.
“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.”
The Province of Ontario committed $3 million in a partnership approach with Georgian College, Transport Canada Marine Safety, the Federal government and industry stakeholders to the overall $7 to 8 million capital equipment upgrade to Ontario’s only approved marine training centre in Owen Sound.
The project will entail 18 months of building construction, quotations and selection of proper equipment, and installation and development of improved training programs to meet the needs of the Great Lakes and international marine industry. New bridge simulators, electronic chart and satellite communication training labs, upgraded engine room simulator and many other improvements are part of the $7 million plus initiative.
A modern interactive data base of Great Lakes and connecting waterways ports, rivers, and canals will provide state of the art training capabilities for shiphandling, pilotage, and bridge team skills training.
“It has been a long voyage,” stated Capt. John Greenway, chair of the Georgian College Marine Advisory Committee, “and rather sad that Ontario’s only approved marine training facility was not capable of meeting our training needs which resulted in training having to be done out of province and out of country. The Ontario government’s recognition of the importance of the marine industry in meeting transportation needs, in providing environmental benefits for the movement of goods and people, and contributing to the economy of Canada and the province was the final partner needed to make this all come together and the industry is appreciative of the recognition and support.”
For nearly 40 years, Georgian College’s Owen Sound campus, which specializes in marine training, has had a post secondary navigation and engineering cadet program, being only one of four schools across Canada to offer such post-secondary programs and the only Transport Canada approved school in Ontario.
In addition to Georgian College’s long-standing history in marine education, Owen Sound’s marine school has existed for nearly 100 years.
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.
Canada Port Authorities Can Now Amalgamate
The potential for two to become one was made a reality for Canadian Port Authorities this past spring.
A new Federal amendment, passed May 30, provides a process for two or more Canadian Port Authorities (CPAs) to amalgamate and continue as one integrated CPA.
“Amalgamation presents an opportunity to make Canada Port Authorities more modern, efficient, competitive and responsive to emerging global opportunities and challenges,” said the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. “A perfect example is the integration of the port authorities of Vancouver, Fraser River, and North Fraser in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, which has been identified as a key policy measure under the federal government’s Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative.”
The 19 CPAs that make up the national system of ports are of strategic importance to Canada’s trade.
They are non-share capital corporations that were incorporated under the 1998 Canada Marine Act and mandated to operate in the public interest, according to business principles.
The Canada Marine Act review report was tabled to Parliament in 2003 for its statutory five-year review.
The report suggested that changes were required if the CMA was to achieve its goals, particularly in terms of promoting and safeguarding Canada’s competitiveness and trade obligations.
Working Toward Sustainable Transportation
With the collective agenda to improve Ontario’s transportation sector, the Sustainable Transforum, held in Toronto on May 28, 29, attracted a world-wide crowd.
Ontario’s Minister of Transportation, Donna Cansfield spoke to the audience about the need to improve the current transportation system, particularly on roads. Cansfield highlighted the efforts of the Ontario Marine Transportation Forum and spoke to the need for increased seaway transportation.
“As part of this multi-modal approach, we’re also working with the Ontario Marine Transportation Forum – a coalition of marine carriers, ports and related interests – to review Ontario’s marine transportation policies and strategic priorities,” Cansfield told the transforum’s audience. “The marine industry has great potential for transporting manufactured goods to many ports along the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway, also known as Highway H2O.”
Cansfield continued her advocacy for seaway transportation, highlighting its current under use; despite an enormous carrying potential.
”The Seaway is expected to handle 45 million tones of cargo this year, but the surprising fact is that it is operating significantly below capacity. At the same time, Ontario faces bottlenecks in freight transportation,” said Cansfield. “I’m told that 900 transport trailers can fit on one Great Lakes ship.”
Well Wishes
Jeff Ryan, former chief of staff to Ontario’s Minister of Transportation Donna Cansfield, has accepted a position with the Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board.
Sarah Baker, who is celebrating her wedding this month, is taking over the position as Chief of Staff to Minister Cansfield.
The OMTF thanks Jeff and Sarah for all of their hard work and wish them well.
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.
