Security at Canadas Ports

WHEREAS Transport Canada is proposing amendments to the regulations governing security at Canadas ports through amendments to Maritime Transport Security Regulations; AND WHEREAS the City of North Vancouver Council supports port workers concerns about port security and acknowledges the pro-active efforts of the waterfront unions to develop practical and cost-effective measures to achieve greater security; AND WHEREAS the new regulations would establish a dangerous precedent for arbitrary access to personal information through the invasive background checks on the workers and their families, exposing them to loss of employment; AND WHEREAS the process for appeal under the proposed regulation is too narrow; AND WHEREAS the proper policing of Canadas ports has been eroded by the massive de-regulation of port security, shipping regulation, cargo checks and container loading and unloading over the last 20 years: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities endorse the call of Vancouver waterfront employers and workers on Transport Canada to abandon the implementation of the gathering of invasive and arbitrary personal information on port workers and their families; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that real port security risks be addressed by re-instituting the proper policing of Canadas ports through reasonable and proper security checks to be paid for by Transport Canada or the Vancouver Port Authority; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this motion be forwarded to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.