Speaker: Ms. May
Time: 04/11/2022 12:07:54
Context: Question
Ms. Elizabeth May (Saanich—Gulf Islands, GP): Madam Speaker, what issue could possibly unite Prairie grain farmers, the Grain Elevators Association, communities up and down the coast of Vancouver Island and Coast Salish first nations? It is the mismanagement coming out of the Vancouver Fraser port authority , CN and CP, and the complete failure to be able to get Prairie grain to a port on time. That is why my communities have free parking for freighters that sit there while everybody loses money and the marine environment suffers.
I would ask the Minister of Transport, to tell us please what the solution is here. It is his portfolio.
Hon. Omar Alghabra (Minister of Transport, Lib.): Madam Speaker, I want to assure my colleague and all Canadians that the issue of vessel traffic management on the Gulf coast is very important to me and to our government. A few weeks ago, I was in Vancouver where I met with the port authority and stakeholders, including shippers and ag producers. Global and domestic supply issues are causing a complicated matter at the port.
Soon, we will be tabling a bill in the House of Commons to modernize how we govern our ports. We have also announced an investment to digitize our supply chains to help the flow of goods and make them more efficient. Our government is acting. This will also relieve pressure on inflation.