Alistair Confronts Minister on Freighter Anchorages

"I did hear the Minister of Transport talk earlier about port congestion, and that is an issue that is very near and dear to my riding of Cowichan—Malahat—Langford.

For years, we have been dealing with the fact that the Port of Vancouver has been using our precious coastal waters as an overflow industrial parking lot. Transport Canada and the Port of Vancouver have treated my constituents, the first nations in my riding, with total indifference on this matter, despite repeated attempts to get it resolved.

I would like to hear from the minister on this particular bill. What is going to happen in the bill that would allow this problem to be dealt with, and if it is not satisfactory, what action can he commit to so that my constituents can have peace of mind?"

Watch Alistair's exchange with the minister:

https://youtu.be/_0V6KTqt4Jc

Bill C-33 the Strengthening the Port System and Railway Safety in Canada Act is legislation that aims to regulate the shipping industry and protect the environment. One of the provisions of the bill is to give more power to the Minister of Transport to regulate the anchorage of vessels in Canadian waters. This could potentially affect freighter anchorage congestion in the Salish Sea by allowing the Minister to designate specific areas for anchorage and limit the number of vessels that can anchor in those areas. The goal is to reduce congestion and improve safety in Canadian waters. However, the impact of this provision on freighter anchorage congestion will depend on how the Minister chooses to exercise this power and how the shipping industry responds to the new regulations.

Alistair Confronts Minister on Freighter Anchorages

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