Labour One Step Closer to gaining voice on Port Authority Boards

Add a seat for Labour at the PRPA Board?

Members of Labour could soon have a place at the table when the Next Prince Rupert Port Authority Board holds a session, that as amendments to Bill C-33 work their way through the Parliamentary process.

Yesterday, Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Taylor Bachrach released a statement outlying the pending change to the Port System and Railway Safety in Canada Act which will secure a seat flor labour representatives on the Boards of Directors of Canadian Ports.

“Port workers are critical to our supply chain and bring an important perspective to the table, especially as our ports grapple with issues like automation and decarbonization. I’m proud that after months of pressuring the government, we were able to secure this important representation for working people.” -- Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP 'Taylor Bachrach

This summer, Bachrach sponsored two parliamentary petitions from the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) calling for labour representation on port authority boards. Over 1,000 BC port workers signed the petitions. 

Rob Ashton, National President of the ILWU joined Bachrach in celebrating the accomplishment. 

 "Through the hard work of the NDP and ILWU Canada, we are excited to see Labour will finally have a voice in the Port Authorities where our members work and live,”

There was a split down the line from Committee Membership with the Liberal and NDP members aligning in support of the amendments, while the Conservatives on the committee voted against creating a seat for labour on the Boards.

The Committee continues on with its work next week, once the committee process is complete, the bill will return to the House of Commons for debate at the third reading stage.

The Full statement from Thursday is available below:

The current make up of the Board of Directors for the Prince Rupert Port Authority currently lists five members, it includes three representatives by federal appointment, one by the province and one from the City of Prince Rupert/District of Port Edward.

The list can be reviewed from the PRPA Website.

More notes related to Port themes can be reviewed here.

Other items of interest from the House of Commons can be explored here.