Port Authority, CN Sign Pact to Boost Efficiency, Move More Cargo

(Montreal Gazette)

The Montreal Port Authority and Canadian National Railway Co. said Monday they have signed a framework pact aimed at raising the port’s efficiency and boosting its share of cargo shipped between Europe and Ontario and the U.S. Midwest. CN will benefit by carrying more cargo onwards. Read more here.

Construction Behind Delays at Port of Montreal: Employers Association

(Montreal Gazette – Chloe Fédio)

The Maritime Employers Association says continued delays at the Port of Montreal are due to construction and are unrelated to the recent lockout. The construction was scheduled by the Port of Montreal in one of three terminals, said Gilles Corriveau, a spokesperson for the MEA. "It was roadwork in one terminal. The other two terminals are going perfect. There are no delays there," said Corriveau. Read more here.

Backlog Cripples Port of Montreal After Lockout

(Canoe.ca – Olivier Bourque)

The lock-out at the Port of Montreal may have ended, but things are still not running without a hitch, something that truckers en route for the port discovered the hard way...

For some, it took two or three hours to enter the port to pickup or unload their cargo. By mid-day, about 50 trucks were lined up to enter the port on Boucherville Road. At the exit, one driver was taking a philosophical approach to the situation.

"I had to wait about four hours," said Dubois. "Normally, it takes me only an hour. The lock-out didn't help, but it's been since the start of the summer that it has been hard like this. What can you do?" [...]

The Port said things should return to normal within a week. In the meantime, truck drivers are being forced to be patient. Lejeune said that suggestions from some truckers to open certain terminals earlier or later in the day is not feasible. The different port terminals have also given a grace period of five days to trucking companies to allow them time to pick up their merchandise. Read more here.

Longshoremen and Employers Reach Agreement

(The Montreal Gazette)

Montreal's longshoremen and the Maritime Employers Association have come to an agreement to end the lock-out at Montreal's harbour. The city's 900-plus dock workers are expected to return to work on Saturday morning. "It's very good for us and for the people of Montreal and for the businesses," said Daniel Tremblay, president of the longshoremen's union, CUPE Local 375.

The dock workers will vote on the agreement Friday morning, but Tremblay says he is confident the majority will be in favour. The city's longshoremen were locked out on Monday morning after contract negotiations fell through. Container ships had to be re-routed to the United States, causing concerns among business owners about shipment delays.

CBSA Message: Release Processing Disruptions - Marine Port of Montreal

(CBSA)

As a result of recent disruptions at the marine port of Montréal, marine vessels may be diverted to another marine port.

Importers and brokers are encouraged to review any recently transmitted release transactions for shipments imported via the marine mode through the marine port of Montréal.

Due to the diversion of the marine vessels, the port of release and sub-location code as originally indicated on the release request may need to be changed. Brokers are encouraged to remain in contact with their marine carrier to ensure they are made aware of any changes.

Requests for changes to the port or warehouse sub-location code after goods have been released must be submitted on Form A48 - RMD Correction to the CBSA office where the goods are physically located.

Questions concerning the release of commercial goods may be sent to release-mainlevee@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca.

Ottawa Sails Into Port Dispute

(The Montreal Gazette)

Federal Labour Minister Lisa Raitt has referred the Port of Montreal dispute to the Canadian Industrial Relations Board.

The action was taken yesterday in response to concerns raised about the supply of goods to Newfoundland and Labrador, Raitt's office said in a statement.

"We must ensure that the health and safety of the public are not jeopardized," Raitt said in the statement.

About half of the goods destined for Newfoundland go through Montreal's port, that province said Monday, the first day of the longshoremen's lockout in Montreal.

The longshoremen's union and the association representing shipping lines are to meet with CIRB officials Saturday morning in Montreal.

"We understand that (the federal government) wants us to unload ships that carry medications and goods related to health," said Daniel Tremblay, president of CUPE Local 375, the Longshoremen's Union.

This morning,(Thursday), Tremblay, other union officials and representatives of the Maritime Employers Association are to meet with federal mediators in a session tentatively set before the lockout began. Read more here.

Talks Imminent in Port of Montreal Lockout

(CTV.ca)

Progress has begun to emerge in on the second day of the Port of Montreal lockout Tuesday. Contract negotiations are set to begin Thursday, and the Longshoremen’s Union, Local 375 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees representing 850 longshoremen said Tuesday afternoon it is ready to begin discussions Wednesday.

Ships have been stalled from moving in and out of the port since Monday morning, stalling cargo from import/export companies and threatening business across the city and country.

As much as 60 per cent of exports, other than those to the U.S., transit through the Port of Montreal.

The lockout will cost the Maritime Employers Association $800,000 per week, spokeman Gilles Corriveau said Tuesday.

At issue for the union is job security, as well as keeping guaranteed payments when longshoremen are on-call and waiting for work.

The longshoremen, who unload shipping containers full of goods at the port, have been without a contract since Dec. 31, 2008. Read more here.

Halifax Prepared to Move Cargo

(The Chronicle Herald)

The Port of Halifax hasn’t been called, but it is ready to take up any slack caused by the longshoremen’s lockout at the Port of Montreal.

“There is a potential that cargo may need to move through Halifax,” Halifax Port Authority spokeswoman Michele Peveril said in an interview Monday. [...]

Peveril said the Port of Halifax is monitoring the situation in the event Port of Montreal customers need to move their cargo to market through other transportation channels.

“If we can be helpful, we will be,” she said Read more here.

Labour Dispute Shuts Port of Montreal

(CTV News)

Commercial operations at the Port of Montreal slid to a halt Monday after the Maritime Employers Association ordered a lockout until further notice.

All operations have stopped except for the grain silos, which are run by the port itself and not affected by the lockout, a spokesman for the association said. He estimates about 98 per cent of operations are affected.

The union representing some 900 longshoremen said earlier that the workers would be locked out by the employers association as of 8 a.m. ET.

“No boats are coming in, no boats are being unloaded, no boats are going out,” said Gilles Corriveau, spokesman for the association. Read more here.

Government of Canada Invests in the Port of Montreal and in Job Creation

(Marketwire)

The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec and Member of Parliament for Roberval–Lac-Saint-Jean, today announced that the Government of Canada will contribute to the economic vitality of Canada and Quebec by investing in a major project to optimize infrastructure at the Port of Montreal.

This investment of over $10 million will be used to maximize capacity of the Cast Terminal to better meet the needs of marine carriers that use the Port of Montreal.

The Government of Canada will provide up to $5.1 million for this project under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund. The Montreal Port Authority will cover the remaining costs of the project. Read more here.

Government of Canada Continues to Invest in the Future of the Port of Montreal

(MarketWire)

The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, announced today [Thursday] that the Government of Canada will be investing in a project to optimize infrastructure at the Port of Montreal, which will have a positive impact on the economic development of the region in the short, medium and long terms.

This investment will be used to improve the electrical facilities, control equipment and network management, so as to increase access point capacity along Hydro-Quebec’s network in the Port of Montreal.

The Government of Canada will provide up to $4,648,500 for this project under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund. The Montreal Port Authority will cover the remaining costs of the project, which is estimated to total $9,297,000.

“With this second Infrastructure Stimulus Fund investment in the Port of Montreal, our Government is investing in the economic futures of Quebec and of Canada,” said Minister Lebel. “As we begin the second phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, our priority will be to continue the rapid implementation of projects such as this one. At the same time, we look forward to meeting future challenges, including restoring the fiscal balance once our economy is fully recovered, as well as building a solid foundation for our economic future.”