Posted April 6, 2005 

The National Post
April 6, 2005 Wednesday
By: Chris Sorensen

Proposed federal security measures aimed at protecting the country's major ports from terrorists will cause long delays and push business south of the border, an industry group warned yesterday.

Despite 18 months of discussions, the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association said there is still no consensus on what constitutes effective security for major ports such as those in Vancouver and Halifax.

The association said it is "troubled" by Transport Canada's proposals to extensively screen port workers, saying the regulations would "pose a significant risk to the competitiveness of Canada's ports, through additional delays, restricting the industry's ability to meet demand, and ultimately, driving business south."

As part of its effort to boost security at major entry points into the country, Transport Canada recently unveiled plans that would involve vetting of all port workers, including extensive criminal record checks of employees and possibly their family members. The proposed measures, similar to the ones used at Canadian airports for more than a decade, are part of a broader initiative aimed at making Canadian ports less vulnerable to terrorists.

But Frank Pasacreta, president of BCMEA, said the money would be better spent on enhanced policing, calling the proposal to conduct extensive background checks of employees "invasive and arbitrary."

As well, the union representing port workers says the new regulations would unnecessarily alienate front-line workers.
Tom Dufresne, president of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union of Canada, had previously said his members would refuse to comply with the new measures -- even if it meant shutting down the Port of Vancouver, Canada's largest port.