Canadian Transportation Agency releases updated Guidelines for Coasting Trade Licence Applications
OTTAWA, July 27, 2010 — Today, the Canadian Transportation Agency released an updated version of its Guidelines Respecting Coasting Trade Licence Applications for the use of foreign vessels in Canadian waters when no suitable Canadian registered ship is available. The Guidelines were developed through extensive consultations with stakeholders and interested parties from across the country's marine sector.
Modifications to the Guidelines clarify the expectations of the Agency with respect to the timing of applications and offers, as well as the content of submissions to ensure that they contain all relevant facts and circumstances. They also more clearly describe the roles and responsibilities of the applicant, the ship offeror and the Agency throughout the decision-making process.
During two rounds of consultations held in 2009 and 2010, the Agency obtained valuable input from stakeholders and interested parties on the above topics, as well as on other matters such as the circumstances deemed appropriate for fast-tracking an application, and other procedural questions. Participants in the consultations were also given an opportunity to raise any other issue or concern related to coasting trade applications as it pertains to the Agency's role in that process.
"The Agency is committed to taking into account the needs of all stakeholders and interested parties when creating guidelines of any sort," said Geoffrey Hare, Chair and CEO of the Canadian Transportation Agency. "We are confident that the newly revised coasting trade guidelines will prove to be valuable for all parties involved in these types of applications."
The Guidelines serve to clarify, among other things, the Agency's mandate under the Coasting Trade Act, the roles and responsibilities of parties involved in the applications process before the Agency, as well as the Agency's administrative process. Under the Agency's process, Canadian owners or operators of suitable and available vessels are provided an opportunity to object to applications for the use of foreign vessels in Canadian waters.
For more information regarding the Guidelines, please see www.cta.gc.ca/eng/coasting-trade/.
About the Agency
The Canadian Transportation Agency is an independent administrative body of the Government of Canada. It performs two key functions within the federal transportation system:
- As a quasi-judicial tribunal, the Agency, informally and through formal adjudication, resolves a range of commercial and consumer transportation-related disputes, including accessibility issues for persons with disabilities. It operates like a court when adjudicating disputes.
- As an economic regulator, the Agency makes determinations and issues authorities, licences and permits to transportation carriers under federal jurisdiction.
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For more information:
Media Relations
Canadian Transportation Agency
819-934-3448
media@otc-cta.gc.ca
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