NMG submits proposal in advance of Federal Budget 2025

Recommendation 1: That the Government of Canada take immediate actions to increase capital investment in Canadian trade-enabling infrastructure at ports, marine terminals, inland terminals and railways to remain competitive in an ever-evolving, and increasingly uncertain, global marketplace. Economic performance in global supply chains hinges on close coordination between the players – carriers, terminals, railways, truckers, etc. Investment is needed to ensure greater alignment. This investment should prioritize projects where clear business cases exist and where private sector investment is encouraged, to address bottlenecks and build surge capacity. Relevant tax policies should be revisited to incentivize investment. This is a ‘Build Canada’ moment.

Recommendation 2: That the Government of Canada immediately address the recommendations of the Industrial Inquiry Commission on Canada’s West Coast Ports in the upcoming Fall 2025 Budget Implementation Act. These recommendations are the result of a comprehensive report commissioned by the government on the heels of a devastating 13-day strike at west coast ports in July 2023, resulting in an estimated $10 billion cost to Canada in disrupted trade. These changes would assist in securing Canada’s supply chains and help avoid such catastrophic disruptions in the future, providing greater certainty for critical international trade. Further, the changes recommended in the IIC Report – assuming subsequent Canada Labour Code amendments – would provide greater labour stability across the federally-regulated private sector, in other vital supply chain industries such as aviation, courier, rail and telecom.

Recommendation 3: NMG members are proud to directly employ thousands of workers with well-paying, family-supporting jobs. However, labour policies enacted over recent years have diminished labour productivity. This can be reversed. First, by reviewing (and potentially reversing) many of the productivity-dragging changes introduced in the ‘labour’ file over the past decade. Second, by ensuring future legislative and regulatory change requires a productivity lens be applied before any change is introduced. In so doing, government should appoint a permanent representative from the ESDC, Labour Program in residence at the Transport Canada-led Supply Chain Office.  Third, by addressing labour shortages in skilled trades through training and upskilling programs, partnering directly with the private sector and working with unions, provinces and trade schools, to nurture the next generation of talent. Fourth, by supporting modernization and technological improvements in the maritime industry through tri-partite collaboration between labour, employers and the federal government.