How The Minister Can Control A Bridge Authority

You have to feel so sorry for Transport Canada. They just seem to have no power to control what so many Bridge operators in Canada do. Accordingly they need Bill C-3 passed.

During the Senate hearings, we heard as examples:

• This is what we want to stress to you today, that Bill C-3 seeks to impose a set of rules that will apply to all international bridges and tunnels equally, regardless of how they are owned or operated, by providing the federal government with the means to fully exercise its constitutional jurisdiction with respect to these structures.
  
• As you can see, there are many different ownership structures, and contrary to what you might have been led to believe, Transport Canada does not own or operate a single international bridge or tunnel.
  
• le gouvernement fédéral n'exerce aucun pouvoir, aucun contrôle, aucune compétence sur ces ouvrages, autres que ceux qui lui sont conférés par la loi originale établissant ces ouvrages.
  
• Par conséquent, même s'il possède la compétence constitutionnelle sur ces ouvrages internationaux, en l'absence de législation qui s'applique également à tous les ponts et tunnels internationaux, le gouvernement n'a pas les moyens nécessaires pour exercer sa compétence. Cela constitue la raison d'être du projet de loi.

No one doubts that the Federal Government needs more control over health, safety and security issues respecting international crossings. But the power to appoint people as a member of the Board of Directors gives the Minister great authority over a Board. Just as it does when the majority shareholder of a company elects a member of the Board of Directors

Perhaps the Senators may be offended when two days after listening to Transport Canada complain about their powerlessness, the Tranport Minister makes an appointment to a Board of a Bridge Authority.