Canadian Government’s Supply Chain Task Force Recommends Reforms

The Canadian government’s National Supply Chain Task Force released the results of a nearly-year-long study of the nation’s transport system last week. Minister of Transport, the Honorable Omar Alghabra, established the task force in January 2022 to produce recommendations on how the country can make its transportation supply chain stronger and Canadians’ lives more affordable.

The report offers 21 specific recommendations that authors say would:

• Ease port congestion;
• Address labor shortages and employee retention;
• Establish a federal Supply Chain Office to unify federal government activities;
• Protect corridors, border crossings, and gateways from disruption;
• Develop a national transportation Supply Chain Strategy; and
• Engage the United States and Canadian provinces and territories to achieve mutual recognition of regulations, policies, and processes.

As a next step, the Canadian government will develop a National Supply Chain Strategy that is informed by the task force’s 21 recommendations. Minister of Transport Alghabra said, “We will continue to work with industry partners to ensure legitimate trade flows freely across the border, while keeping Canadians safe and secure.”

Through the National Trade Corridors Fund (NTCF), the Canadian government also is making investments that will support the flow of goods across Canada’s supply chains. Indeed, the 2022 budget provided $450 million over five years to support supply chain projects through the NTCF and ease the movement of goods across Canada.