Federal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra visited Rosedale Transport yesterday to welcome the ultimate report from the Nationwide Provide Chain Process Power, which introduced 21 actions to unclog Canada’s provide chain.
Among the many priorities outlined within the report have been easing port congestion, addressing labor shortages, defending border crossings and commerce corridors from disruptions, and growing a nationwide provide chain technique.
“Making certain that Canadians obtain important items has been a prime precedence for our authorities. Over the previous a number of months, I’ve met with a variety of provide chain companions and mentioned challenges and techniques for private and non-private sector collaboration to search out modern options to ease congestion all through our provide chain,” Alghabra mentioned in a press launch.
“We proceed our work to search out solutions to make sure Canada’s provide chain stays environment friendly and dependable. I additionally want to thank the Nationwide Provide Chain Process Power for his or her efforts over the past a number of months. The Process Power’s closing report will show invaluable as Canada develops its Nationwide Provide Chain Technique.”
The Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA), one of many stakeholders concerned within the discussions, welcomed the trucking-specific suggestions outlined within the report.
These embody: increasing the Short-term Overseas Employees program within the transportation trade; assist funding coaching prices for truck drivers; twinning Hwy. 185 between New Brunswick and Quebec to permit extra use of lengthy mixture automobiles; re-opening FAST enrolment facilities; increasing Canadian Meals Inspection Company companies for quicker processing of business masses; and defending highways and commerce corridors from disruptions resembling blockades and protests.
Assembly carriers
A number of carriers met with Alghabra at Rosedale Transport following the discharge of the report.
“Minister Alghabra has been an excellent ally and supportive of our trade all through the pandemic,” mentioned Rosedale president Rolly Uloth. “Our sector, like many others, has confronted a rising listing of challenges over the past 2-1/2 years. The suggestions within the provide chain report, if carried out, will go a great distance in direction of bolstering the provision chain and relieving among the capability constraints and disruption many companies are experiencing.”
The Non-public Motor Truck Council of Canada (PMTC) additionally thanked the Process Power for together with a few of its suggestions.
“Whereas not all of PMTC’s asks have been included, we have a look at this report as a really optimistic first step with many nice suggestions included that may assist scale back congestion at our ports, air terminals and on the highway, in addition to assist tackle among the essential provide chain shortages,” mentioned PMTC president Mike Millian.
Teamsters strike issues
The Teamsters issued an announcement saying the Process Power is heading in the right direction, however the union additionally voiced issues about how the suggestions may influence its members’ capability to strike.
“Teamsters Canada has persistently mentioned that trucking have to be acknowledged as a talented commerce to cut back the price of coaching by apprenticeships and to underscore the worth and the competencies required to carry out this important job. The report stops in need of making this suggestion however does acknowledge the price of coaching as a barrier to entry into this all-important trade,” mentioned Teamsters Canada president François Laporte.
“We have to concentrate on the actual points undermining international provide chains. Free collective bargaining will not be an obstacle to produce chain continuity, however this report suggests in any other case. In the end, unions and on a regular basis working-class Canadian households aren’t on the supply of the world’s present disruptions. Attacking our rights gained’t resolve the disaster.”
The complete report could be discovered right here.
