Canada’s Pacific
Gateway Strategy: An Overview

The goal is to enhance Canada’s competitive position in 21^st century global commerce

• Success in international trade today is driven by rapid, seamless, and secure movement of people and goods around the world in global supply chains.
   
• Human and physical capital to support these movements are concentrated in key geographic locations - “gateways” - linked to each other and to major markets - by “corridors”.
   
• The emergence of China, India and other Asian economies makes further development of Canada's Pacific Gateway a national priority.
   
• Concerns exist about the capacity of the Pacific Gateway to respond to the opportunities:
   
  • Congestion is now plaguing the B.C. lower mainland and points further east;
     
  • Other gaps and opportunities exist in inter-connected issues -- trade strategy, trade promotion, human resource issues (skills shortages), border management, regulation and economic policies, and land use.
     
• While inter-connected issues require inter-connected actions, existing governance mechanisms are insufficient to holistically address those connections, in partnership with all the stakeholders who play important roles in the success of the Pacific Gateway.

The Pacific Gateway Strategy will boost BC’s economy, and generate benefits across the West, and throughout Canada

Strategy addresses the Gateway’s effectiveness,
and its contribution to Canada’s prosperity
 

The Pacific Gateway Bill demonstrates the depth of commitment

• The Bill will establish a new policy and governance foundation for further development of the Pacific Gateway.
   
• Legislation and investment go hand-in-hand:
  
• Investment without legislation would lack a longer term policy focus.
   
• Legislation without investment would lack tangible commitment

• Canada’s Pacific Gateway preamble and policy declaration:
  
  
  • Articulates the national interest in the Pacific Gateway.
     
  • Highlights commitment to B.C., relevance across the West and economic benefits across Canada.
     
  • New “gateway” policy approach goes beyond infrastructure.
     
  • Basis for federal leadership responsive to regional realities and opportunities.
     
• Innovative new advisory body: Canada’s Pacific Gateway Council:
   
  
  • Board to reflect interests of stakeholders, federal government, B.C., Prairie provinces.
  
   
  • Mandate to advise governments and promote consensus on policy, regulatory and investment priorities for Pacific Gateway development in a transparent, multi-stakeholder, public-private forum.
     

Highlights: Preamble and Policy Declaration

• Commits federal government to implement Pacific Gateway Strategy, and defines it.
   
• Anchors the initiative in the trade agenda, and predominance of global supply chains.
   
• Establishes the breadth of interconnected issues including infrastructure, border management, security, labour markets, environment, trade promotion, sectoral cooperation, innovation.
   
• Will serve as a basis for elaborating a national policy framework on strategic gateways and trade corridors.
   

Highlights: Canada’s Pacific Gateway Council

• Advisory body, rather than arms-length entity (e.g. crown corporation).
   
• Ensures Council provides advice on relevant topics.
   
• While its profile gives it credibility, Cabinet retains ultimate discretion.

• 14 voting members appointed by GIC (cannot be elected officials or government employees).
   
• Chairperson; 7 more Directors reflecting various interests.
   
• 5 Directors (2 for BC and 1 each for Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba) to be appointed after consultation with relevant provincial governments.
   
• Chair of Asia Pacific Foundation (GIC appointee) is voting member.
   
• Secretary of the Council (government employee) is non voting member.

• Engagement of all stakeholders, consensus-building and advice to governments and private sector on the full range of issues affecting development and exploitation of Pacific Gateway, including future federal investment priorities.
   
• Build on efforts of existing networks of stakeholders in a collaborative manner.  

• Pacific Gateway Transportation Advisory Committee.



• Individuals from municipalities, rail sector, port and shipping sectors, air sector, trucking sector, logistics sector, transportation users, aboriginal people, environmental experts, and security and emergency preparedness experts.
   
• Focus on the effectiveness of Canada’s Pacific Gateway.
   
• Provide analysis and advice on strategic directions and long-term program of studies.
   
• Pacific Gateway Opportunities Advisory Committee.
   
  • Consists of stakeholders interested in the opportunities offered by the Pacific Gateway.
     
  • Focus on how Canada can take full advantage of the Pacific Gateway.
     
  • Provide advice on strategic directions and long-term program of studies.
     
• Council can establish study Panels for specific projects to be presided by one member of the Council and consisting of persons having specialized knowledge in, or particularly affected by, the matter to be studied, as well as other relevant interests.
   

The Pacific Gateway Strategy launches immediate actions, and a long-term process to address the interconnected issues…

Strategic infrastructure investments…

• To address key capacity and congestion problems that affect the efficiency of the Gateway in the B.C. Lower Mainland and points further east to improve traffic flow and advanced technology solutions to maximize efficiency of the gateway.

• To increase border management capacity at the key entry points for the Pacific Gateway by addressing the operational demands resulting from increases in trade, visits, immigration and the evolving security environment.

• For measures that will permit Canada to derive the greatest advantage from the Pacific Gateway, including better positioning of Canadian businesses, products and services in China and other emerging markets.

• To help ensure the Gateway has the people needed to make it work, including addressing skills shortages in key areas, initiatives related to immigration, and attracting the best and brightest to Canada through measures in post-secondary education.

The Pacific Gateway Strategy demonstrates federal leadership beginning in Fall 2005 …

• Introduction of The Pacific Gateway Act, October 20, 2005
   

Immediate initiatives and projects:
Canada’s Pacific Gateway Council	$35M
Immediate transportation infrastructure investments:	$125M
Secure, efficient border services	$20M
Deeper links - Standards harmonization	$10M
Future Strategic Investments	$400M
Total package worth	$590M