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Policy Renewal
Direction
Since various issues directly impacting Gateway and Corridor effectiveness and exploitation interact with each other in important ways, they are best addressed in an integrated fashion rather than in isolation. Partnership is essential. The Gateway approach offers a coherent framework for joint leadership and focused collaboration among the different public and private sector actors who control or influence the key issues.
New approaches to governance, reflecting an outward-looking perspective on global commerce, are necessary to ensure maximum efficiency of existing assets.
For the Government of Canada, there is an internal dimension as well. Various federal departments have responsibilities that directly impact the Gateway. The immediate measures identified under this Initiative include activities led by Transport Canada, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Western Economic Diversification Canada, the Canada Border Services Agency, Parks Canada and Human Resources and Social Development Canada. An ongoing element of the Initiative will be a policy renewal agenda that aims in part to work across the “silos” to advance the longterm development and exploitation of the Gateway and Corridor.
Success of the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative over the long term will require enhanced commitments to policy coordination and integration within the federal government, and among all governments and the private sector.
Immediate Measures
Lower Mainland Port Integration
To enhance to Canada’s competitiveness in the global trade environment, the Government of Canada will work with the Fraser River, North Fraser and Vancouver Port Authorities to explore the opportunities for a new integrated port authority for the B.C. Lower Mainland. The objective is to improve the coordination of port activities. Discussions between the Government of Canada and representatives of the Port Authorities were initiated in early July 2006.
Lower Mainland Trucking Forum
To improve logistics and operating efficiencies throughout the Lower Mainland, the forum, led by the province of B.C., will provide owner-operator truck drivers and others in the short-haul container trucking industry operating in the B.C. Lower Mainland an opportunity to discuss and review business practices and other issues. This is an important element of joint efforts to enhance the reliability of Canada’s Asia- Pacific Gateway and Corridor.
The Asia-Pacific Gateway: Building on Consensus
Stakeholder organizations, such as the Greater Vancouver Gateway Council, have led the way in forging a consensus that addresses interconnected issues and opportunities across all modes of transportation on Canada’s west coast.
The B.C. government has undertaken important research and has worked with stakeholders to develop the province’s gateway program over the last two years.
The Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative seeks to build on these and other successes, and take the Gateway concept even further.
Direction
At a conceptual level, a wide array of issues are often associated with the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor. However, the federal government’s Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative will target those most concretely connected to its clearly stated objectives. That is — a focused agenda of policy issues that directly impact the efficiency of the transportation infrastructure that defines the Gateway and Corridor, or its exploitation.
In this context, the key issues potentially include land use planning, macro-economic policies, labour market issues including the supply of skilled workers, international agreements in fields such as trade and air transport, targeted trade and investment promotion, standards harmonization, security and border facilitation, and tourism (including the 2010 Olympics).
Immediate Measures
Marketing the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor
Up to $7 million over five years
The Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative aims to maximize the use of the Gateway assets to the benefit of Canadians by promoting the Gateway as the best transportation network connecting North America and Asia.
To promote greater use of the Gateway as the supply chain route of choice to North America for Asian exporters, investors and shipping companies, the Government of Canada will develop specialized outgoing and incoming missions and showcase the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor’s advantages for freight and passenger movements between Asia Pacific and North America at key trade, investment and technology shows, conferences and seminars in Canada, Asia Pacific and the U.S.
These activities, which will be developed in collaboration with Canadian stakeholders, the governments of B.C. and other provinces, municipalities, sector associations, businesses and other informed groups, will be aimed at business communities, logistics interests and public sector authorities, particularly key importers, exporters, shippers and potential investors along the supply chains that span East Asia and North America.
Use of Containers Study
This study will address efficiencies and regulatory issues surrounding the potential greater use of empty containers moving west through the Gateway and back to the Asia-Pacific region. Availability of empty international marine containers for exports is a significant concern to the Prairie provinces. Optimizing the use of these empty containers could provide further efficiencies in the freight cargo supply chain through the Gateway and Corridor.
Labour market
The Government of Canada is committing to work with the provinces and stakeholders on skills needs for the Gateway. A collaborative and practical approach will allow various stakeholders to identify common challenges and opportunities for action on skills issues relevant to the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor.
Labour Market Pressures in the Gateway and Corridor
There are significant labour market pressures in the Gateway, including shortages of workers, rising skills requirements, integration of immigrants and competing pressures for skilled labour from other sectors and regions:
- The Canadian Trucking Human Resources Council has forecasted national demand of 37,000 new truck drivers per year until 2008.
- Research by the Construction Sector Council has demonstrated that between 2005 and 2008, the industry will require an anticipated 22,000-27,000 workers simply to meet labour demands associated with oilsands projects and the 2010 Olympic Games.
- The supply chain management industry is being challenged to find employees with the skill sets to cope with emerging technologies, global security and a global marketplace. The 2006 human resources study of the supply chain industry confirmed an expected shortage over the next three to five years of more than 86,000 employees.