Québec Marine Transportation Policy - Transport - Gouvernement ...

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1.7 The withdrawal of the Canadian government
The federal government has changed its approach to economic development in the regions of
Québec and the rest of Canada in recent years. The government is seeking to transfer transportrelated
operations to local authorities and this trend continues today. This disinvestment policy first
targeted regional airports and railroads, but rapidly expanded to include port infrastructures. In
1995, Ottawa announced that it was abandoning its traditional responsibilities as owner, operator,
manager and financial supporter of port infrastructures throughout Canada, the Saint Lawrence
Seaway included. This withdrawal, which also extends to navigational services, has had a significant
impact on the industry and threatens the soundness and competitiveness of several areas of the
Québec marine transportation system.
The cumulative effect
of federal withdrawal
and cost recovery policies
has been to reduce the
competitiveness of the
maritime mode and
industry
Pricing
Since 1996, the federal government has introduced tariffs
for navigational aid services, dredging and ice-breaking. It
has also partially withdrawn services in the field of environmental
emergency response, while retaining control
over their standards.
The financial consequences of these actions are many and
varied for those who use the Saint-Laurent. The $4.2 million
annual bill for dredging the main navigation canal of the
Saint-Laurent is now footed entirely by users. In addition,
the annual bill for navigational aid services, ice breaking
and dredging currently runs at $20 million. Québec provides
half of the Canadian Coast Guard’s total annual tariff revenues, but only receives 20% of their
spendings. The homeports of 60% of the Canadian Coast Guard fleet are in the Maritimes and its
two largest icebreakers are based in Halifax where there is no need for ice breaking as these ports
are ice-free year round.
The cumulative effect of federal withdrawal and cost recovery policies has been to reduce the
competitiveness of the maritime mode and industry. Repercussions can be felt on other levels of
government which, in addition to having no say in federal decisions, do not have sufficient
resources to maintain, manage and develop regional infrastructures. The effect of this policy is
all the more damaging when one considers that Saint-Laurent competitors, the Mississippi system
for one, do not have to support such costs.