No. H 115/07
For release June 11, 2007
OTTAWA - The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport,
Infrastructure and Communities, today announced the appointment of Captain
René Turenne as the investigator of the project to amend the Laurentian
Pilotage Authority Regulations. The project aims to modernize the
recruitment criteria for apprentice pilots in two pilotage districts of the
St. Lawrence River.
The Laurentian Pilotage Authority proposed changes to its regulations, as
published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, on March 3, 2007. During
the 30-day public comment period following publication, Transport Canada
received three notices of objections, two from pilot corporations and one
from a private individual. As a result, the Minister appointed Mr. Turenne
to investigate the objections and to report back with recommendations later
this summer.
"Canada's New Government takes the safety and security of the marine
transportation system very seriously. We are committed to taking concrete
action to maintain appropriate levels of safety and to being accountable to
Canadians," said Minister Cannon. "I am confident that Mr. Turenne will
conduct a thorough investigation and provide recommendations that will
benefit all parties concerned."
Mr. Turenne, from Winnipeg, Manitoba, is a professional sailor who retired
after 38 years in the Canadian Coast Guard. Throughout his career, he
acquired significant experience, including time spent working aboard
ice-breakers, both on the Atlantic coast as well as the Great Lakes and
Arctic Ocean. He also participated in two scientific research trips in
Arctic seawaters, with the "SHEBA" in 1997-98 and the "Northwest Tundra" in
1999, and one in Antarctica with the "SEDNA IV" in 2006. He holds a degree
in nautical science from the Canadian Coast Guard College, a Master Mariner
certificate, a certificate of proficiency in radio, a Canadian private pilot
licence, a hovercraft operator's licence, a Canadian Coast Guard command
certificate and a Canadian Coast Guard watch-keeping certificate.
The Laurentian Pilotage Authority initially proposed to amend the
Regulations in the Canada Gazette, as a result of a study on
pilotage workforce needs in the coming years, relating to apprentice pilots.
The study was commissioned by the Authority and it revealed that the
existing regulatory framework is not favorable to meeting future demand for
pilotage services. The Authority proposes to increase the size of the pool
of apprentice candidates while recruiting qualified officers.
In order to propose any changes to existing pilotage requirements, pilotage
authorities must first demonstrate to Transport Canada that they have
properly assessed the risk associated with the changes and have determined
that safety will not be compromised. Interested parties must also be
provided with an opportunity to comment on the proposed changes. Should
there be several objections to the proposed changes, the Minister of
Transport, Infrastructure and Communities is required to appoint a person to
investigate the proposals and to determine the most appropriate course of
action to help ensure continued safe pilotage.
The Laurentian Pilotage Authority is a Crown corporation created in 1972
under the Pilotage Act. It operates and maintains a safe, efficient
and economical pilotage service on the St. Lawrence River between
Les Escoumins and the St. Lambert Lock, on the Saguenay River and in Chaleur
Bay. The authority sets pilotage charges that allow it to operate on a
self-sustaining financial basis.
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Contacts:
Natalie Sarafian
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport,
Infrastructure and Communities,
Ottawa
613-991-0700
Kirsten Goodnough
Communications
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055
Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at apps.tc.gc.ca/listserv/ and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada.
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