Transport Canada Divests Three Ports in Newfoundland to Local Business Groups

News Release

Includes federal investment for rehabilitation of the ports’ infrastructure

Transport Minister Lisa Raitt transfers the ports of Long Pond, Botwood and Main Brook NL to local business groups in a ceremony on the Long Pond Wharf. (l to r) Long Pond Harbour Authority Inc. Vice-chairman Fred Constantine, Minister Raitt, Conception Bay South Mayor Ken MacDonald, Exploits Valley Port Corporation Chair and Mayor of Botwood, Jerry Dean and Main Brook Research and Development Corporation Chair, Leander Pilgrim

September 12, 2014 - Conception Bay South, NL - Transport Canada

The Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Transport, today announced the divestiture of the ports of Long Pond, Botwood and Main Brook, NL to local business groups. These divestitures include an investment of over $22 million for the continued operation and maintenance of the ports’ infrastructure, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the port.

Quick Facts

The Government of Canada has provided financial contributions to each port for operation and maintenance including: $12.9 million to the Long Pond Harbour Authority Inc., $8.9 million to Exploits Valley Port Corporation for the Port of Botwood and $675,000 to the Main Brook Research and Development Corporation for the Port of Main Brook.
Transport Canada has divested 496 ports since 1996, which has resulted in savings to Canadian taxpayers of over $470 million.
Economic Action Plan 2014 allocated $33 million over two years to support the divestiture of regional ports to provincial/territorial governments or local interests and the continued operation and maintenance of federally owned ports.

Quotes

“Our Government is committed to enhancing the lives and livelihood of Canadians, and to strengthening the economies of our communities. Canada’s ports are an integral part of the national transportation system and play an important role in Canada’s international trade. We are pleased to have divested the ports of Long Pond, Botwood and Main Brook to local business groups who are positioned to operate these ports in the best interest of these local communities.”
Honourable Lisa Raitt,
Minister of Transport

“As the owner and operator of the Port of Long Pond, our goal is to develop and promote the port and to make it a viable and dynamic business. We are pleased that we can now make decisions at a local level that will generate employment and economic activity for Conception Bay South and all of Eastern Newfoundland.”
Keith Arns,
Chair, Long Pond Harbour Authority Inc.

“The Exploits Valley Port Corporation welcomes the divestiture of the Port of Botwood. Having control of the port locally, and overseeing its operation, will enable us to determine best practices to address and serve the interests of the Port of Botwood and neighbouring communities, while boosting the local economy.”
Jerry Dean,
Chair, Exploits Valley Port Corporation

“The town of Main Brook is very pleased with the recent divestiture of the port to the Main Brook Research and Development Corporation. We can now take a hands-on approach to running the port in a way that is tailored to the needs of Main Brook and local communities.”
Leander Pilgrim,
Director, Main Brook Research and Development Corporation

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Contacts

Jana Régimbal
Press Secretary Office of the Honourable Lisa Raitt
Minister of Transport, Ottawa
613-991-0700

Media Relations
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055

Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to e-news at www.tc.gc.ca/e-news or stay connected through RSS, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Flickr to keep up to date on the latest from Transport Canada.

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Transport Canada Divests Three Ports in Newfoundland to Local Business Groups

News Release

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