THE PACIFIC GATEWAY ACT

For Canada, trade and investment are primary generators of growth and good jobs — key points that were emphasized in the Government of Canada's most recent Speech from the Throne. In a global economy that is rapidly changing and highly competitive, Canada must invest its resources strategically to ensure that the country remains a strong and reliable trading partner. With respect to trade with China, India, and other countries in Asia-Pacific, this is especially important, as these fast-growing economies are becoming important trade partners. China alone is on track to become the world's second largest economy by 2016, and the largest economy within less than 50 years.

Canada is taking action to strengthen its position in Asia-Pacific commerce. An important step is the introduction of the Pacific Gateway Act.

The legislation sets out a new policy and governance foundation for further development of Canada's Pacific Gateway and commits the federal government to a clearly defined strategy. The Act establishes Canada's Pacific Gateway Council to promote consensus among a full range of public and private sector stakeholders and to advise decision-makers on priorities for developing the Pacific Gateway.

Preamble and Policy Declaration

The Act's preamble and policy declaration articulate the national interest in the Pacific Gateway, establish the principles which will guide federal action and then commit the Government of Canada to a clearly defined strategy. Several elements of the Act also make clear the government's commitment to work in collaboration with other orders of government and private sector partners to support development and use of the Pacific Gateway.

The Act's policy declaration defines the essential elements of the strategy:

• supporting the further development of a world class multimodal network of strategic transportation links and transfer points of national significance that is competitive, efficient, safe, secure and environmentally sound;
   

• advancing an integrated and cohesive set of measures in areas that affect gateway performance to allow Canada to take full advantage of the opportunities it provides; and
   

• promoting strategic partnerships and collaboration among governments and stakeholders, including through the creation of Canada's Pacific Gateway Council.

Canada's Pacific Gateway Council

Committed stakeholders in the transport sector have long advocated, and worked toward, a more integrated approach that addresses interconnections and synergies among policy and investment issues across all modes of transportation on Canada's west coast. The Pacific Gateway Strategy seeks to build on those efforts and takes the concept even further. The interconnections reach beyond transportation and so must the consensus building, advisory process, and future decisions. Therefore the strategy will create a new body to advise decision makers on the full range of transportation and other issues that have an impact on the effectiveness of Canada's Pacific Gateway and how well the Canadian economy takes advantage of it.

Canada's Pacific Gateway Council and its secretariat will be based in the Vancouver area. The council's mandate will be to develop advice for decision makers through a transparent process that seeks to integrate the views of the full range of stakeholders. The council will also be mandated to collaborate with existing networks of stakeholders active in relations with Asia-Pacific countries, for example the Asia-Pacific Foundation of Canada, and in gateway issues, for example the Greater Vancouver Gateway Council. The council will be comprised of governor in council appointees reflecting various areas of expertise, such as transportation, business, international trade, security, labour and municipalities. It will include individuals appointed after consultation with the governments of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba and other provinces of Canada. The chair of the Asia-Pacific Foundation of Canada will also be a member.

The council will create at least two committees to provide analysis and advice on strategic directions and its long term program of studies.

• The Pacific Gateway Transportation Advisory Committee will be made up of individuals from municipalities; the rail, port, shipping, air, trucking and logistics sectors; transportation users; Aboriginal people; environmental experts; and security and emergency preparedness experts, to focus on the effectiveness of Canada's Pacific Gateway.
   

• The Pacific Gateway Opportunities Advisory Committee will consist of individuals offering expertise relevant to the opportunities of the Pacific Gateway, focusing on how Canada can take full advantage of it.

Up to $35 million over five years has been identified for the work of the council and for federal departments that will be interacting with the council to make the delivery of the Pacific Gateway Strategy a success.

For more information, visit the Pacific Gateway site.

October 2005