Conference Agenda

First Nations Blessing

Canada’s ports sit at the intersection of multiple sectors of the Canadian economy -- imported goods for Canadian retailers, the export of agricultural products and natural resources, and facilitators of cruise tourism. This panel will discuss the role of ports as enablers of Canadian public policy and economic prosperity, and the interplay at work between the major sectors of the Canadian economy.

Sustainable development is based on three dimensions: environmental, economic and social. In 2015, the United Nations unanimously adopted its 2030 Agenda, including 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These 17 SDGs cover the three dimensions of sustainability and are broken down into specific targets to be achieved at the country level. This panel will outline a research project under way to contextualize the SDGs for each port participating in the project, as well as set and prioritize targets for each.

Cocktail in the AML cruise ship on the Cavalier-Maxime

Transportation infrastructure is key to Canadian prosperity for trade and tourism. Significant investments are needed in the coming years to maintain existing infrastructure, expand capacity to support growth, ensure resiliency through climate change impacts, and to decarbonize transportation to help meet Canada’s climate change goals. What are the opportunities and challenges faced by the infrastructure players in Canada’s transportation supply chain?

Soon after the conference, the federal government is expected to released its long-awaited “National Transportation Supply Chain Strategy,” one of the key recommendations of the Supply Chain Task Force final report. What should be in a long-term national supply chain strategy for Canada?

Ports must integrate concern and awareness of the impact of their presence and activities with local communities, citizens and stakeholders. This panel will focus on how various challenges and opportunities were addressed by working together.

Tapping into the voice of the local port community and working with stakeholders, First Nations and citizens is a fundamental strategic and operational imperative for ports. Panelists, representing ports and communities, will talk about specific experiences and instances where all sides came.

The tradition of closing remarks by the host ports and ACPA as well as a message from next year’s host port will close out the conference sessions.