Shipping News Revived Maritime merger proposal gets no political support

Shipping News

Revived Maritime merger proposal gets no political support

The age-old idea of merging the three Maritime provinces has been resurrected despite an overwhelming lack of political will from an array of government levels.

A trio of Conservative senators — John Wallace of New Brunswick, Mike Duffy of Prince Edward Island and Stephen Greene of Nova Scotia — are making a plea to consolidate the Maritime provinces, an idea that has intermittently reappeared over the past century.

On Tuesday, Duffy told CBC News the proposal would help revive the regional economy.

"Are there ways we can make life better for our islanders by pooling our resources, by buying cheaper? Why do we have separate people making purchases on behalf of provincial governments?" Duffy said.

But several political figures — including premiers Darrell Dexter of Nova Scotia and Robert Ghiz of P.E.I. — have denounced the idea in recent days, saying the provinces are already working co-operatively.

Donald Savoie, Canada research chair in public administration at the University of Moncton, said the fiscal challenges facing the Maritime provinces and an aging population are what have brought the idea to the floor once again.

He said the three provinces are all stomaching immense financial pressures and the concept of the Maritime Union "is in fashion."

"Whenever there's an external force that threatens us in the Maritimes, we tend to talk about the Maritime Union," said Savoie, noting that he has supported the idea for years.

"What we're witnessing all through the Maritime provinces is some pretty serious fiscal challenges and some pretty serious economic challenges. We have a fast-aging population, and I don't think we have the financial resources to maintain the status quo."

Wallace and Greene were not immediately available for comment.

Promoting economic development

New Brunswick is currently grappling with a $10-billion debt, a $356-million deficit and an unemployment rate of 11.6 per cent — the province's highest in nearly a decade.

In P.E.I., the 2012-13 deficit is projected to come in at $79.6 million, while the Nova Scotia government has promised to balance its books in its budget next spring, despite a deficit forecast for the current fiscal year of $249 million.

Savoie noted that economic development could be more efficiently promoted if the provinces merged, and it would eliminate the need to compete to attract jobs.

"I think it involves better public services, better ability to rationalize public services, and also it speaks to economic development," Savoie said in an interview from Florida on Saturday.

"I think the Maritime provinces as a unit would be better off promoting economic development than three little units vying for a new investment."

But Savoie admits the idea would be a tough sell to provincial governments.

"I think Maritimers themselves will have to provide the leadership," he said.

Calls for a Maritime Union date back nearly 150 years, when the three provinces — then the Maritime colonies — were slated to meet at the Charlottetown Conference to discuss a union. But the plan was expanded after what is now Ontario and Quebec joined the meeting.

The idea was also studied in the mid-1960s, when a commission report recommended a Maritime Union over time.

Savoie said the topic also came up in the late 1970s, when talks of Quebec leaving Canada sparked discussion about what would happen to the Maritime provinces.

Source: cbc.ca

More News

Maritime News, Shipping Downturn: A Survivor’s Guide Maritime News, Shipping Downturn: A Survivor's Guide Global law firm White & Case LLP release a new report – 'Restructuring & Beyond' – focusing on survival strategies for those affected by the industry's downturn as well as emerging opportunities for companies, banks and investors. "Market equilibrium remains out of balance, and risks remain for the maritime sector," ...
Maritime News, Somalia: European Union and IGAD Co-Operate to Fight Piracy Maritime News, Somalia: European Union and IGAD Co-Operate to Fight Piracy The European Union has granted the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) $50 million to launch the three-year regional Maritime Security Programme (MASE), the Djiboutian Information Agency reported Friday (June 14th). IGAD Secretary General Mahboub Maalim signed the agreement in Djibouti with EU Ambassador to Djibouti Joseph Silva. MASE ...
Maritime News, AUSTAL DELIVERS USNS CHOCTAW COUNTY (JHSV 2) Maritime News, AUSTAL DELIVERS USNS CHOCTAW COUNTY (JHSV 2) Six months to the day after delivery of the first JHSV The second Austal-built Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV), USNS Choctaw County (JHSV 2), was officially delivered to the United States Navy on June 6, exactly six months following the delivery of USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1) on December 6, ...
Maritime News, Navy plans unmanned aircraft to tackle piracy Maritime News, Navy plans unmanned aircraft to tackle piracy The Indian Navy is mooting deployment of unmanned surface and sub-surface vehicles to strengthen its anti-piracy operations. The Navy has submitted its qualitative requirements for a ship-track-and-trail vehicle to the Vizag-based Naval Science and Technological Laboratory ( NSTL) for "tackling non-state threats and players". The move is to develop ...
Maritime News, WATCHKEEPER: WHAT COMES FIRST – THE CHICKEN OR THE EGG? Maritime News, WATCHKEEPER: WHAT COMES FIRST – THE CHICKEN OR THE EGG? Nobody would surely have ever thought about writing regulations for the conduct of mechanically propelled vehicles before Mr. Daimler had invented the car. Such anticipation would have been judged premature, even though the concept of mechanical propulsion by road was around for a long time ...
Maritime News, Wärtsilä signs EUR 150 million loan agreement with European Investment Bank for R&D activities Maritime News, Wärtsilä signs EUR 150 million loan agreement with European Investment Bank for R&D activities The European Investment Bank (EIB) has granted a EUR 150 million loan to Wärtsilä to finance the company's research, development and innovation (RDI) activities in several European countries. The contract for the 10-year loan was signed in Helsinki, Finland on 13 ...
Maritime News, Cross-Med, Black Sea freight rates hit 9-month low on thin demand: trade Maritime News, Cross-Med, Black Sea freight rates hit 9-month low on thin demand: trade Clean freight rates for handy-size cargoes on a Cross-Mediterranean and Black Sea-Mediterranean route have fallen to record nine-month lows on a lack of cargoes and growing tonnage, shipping sources said Thursday. Cross-Med rates for 30,000 mt cargoes were assessed at Worldscale 130, or $8.40/mt, ...
Maritime News,Unions concerned over threat to EU pilotage Maritime News, Unions concerned over threat to EU pilotage European marine pilots have warned that the recession-hit shipping industry should not be allowed to create commercial pressures that compromise the provision of pilotage services. The annual general meeting of the European Maritime Pilots’ Association (EMPA) heard that pilots are facing increasing challenges – including the growth in the ...
Maritime News, 80,000 seafarers face job loss Maritime News, 80,000 seafarers face job loss Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. is seeking “vigorous and sustainable reforms” in the maritime industry for the Philippines to pass the European Union safety audit in October and be able to save the jobs of Filipino seafarers boarding European Union-flagged commercial vessels. At least 360,000 Filipino seafarers are aboard EU vessels but ...
Maritime News, Intercargo Calls for Improved and Transparent Public Reporting Following Ship Casualties Maritime News, Intercargo Calls for Improved and Transparent Public Reporting Following Ship Casualties During the forthcoming IMO Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 92 to be held 12 – 21 June 2013) Intercargo, the International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners will present its Bulk Carrier Casualty Report and will call for member States to fully investigate ship losses and ...
Maritime News, Belize GOV Takes Over Offshore Companies Registry, Shipping Registry Maritime News, Belize GOV Takes Over Offshore Companies Registry, Shipping Registry A press release issued at the close of business this evening announces that the government of Belize has taken over control of the International Business Companies Registry, along with the International Merchant Marine Registry of Belize IMMARBE. The move to take over IMMARBE has been expected ...
Maritime News, Philippine Vice President Jejomar Binay calls for STCW audit assistance at GL Maritime Round Table Maritime News, Philippine Vice President Jejomar Binay calls for STCW audit assistance at GL Maritime Round Table “Germany and the EU cannot possibly have world-class efficient commercial ships manned by Filipinos today and world-class efficient ships without Filipinos onboard tomorrow”, said Vice President of the Philippines Jejomar Binay at a Maritime Round Table held at the Head ...
Maritime News, Industry knowledge grows with DNV’s portable survey simulator Maritime News, Industry knowledge grows with DNV's portable survey simulator DNV’s training simulator is designed to demonstrate thousands of potential vessel defects with real life accuracy, and it is now available on laptop with special training programmes developed to suit inspectors, seafarers and technical managers. The potential of Sesam SurveySimulator will be demonstrated in DNV’s 2013 Fire ...
Maritime News, Beijing ‘to increase reliance on Middle East oil’ Maritime News, Beijing 'to increase reliance on Middle East oil' China's dependence on Middle Eastern oil will increase in the coming years, while American dependence will decline, said speakers at the United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission hearing in Washington last week. The diverging trends will give the United States an upper hand over China, some speakers ...
Maritime News, FG Moves to Stop European Ship owners on Risk Premium Charges Maritime News, FG Moves to Stop European Ship owners on Risk Premium Charges The Federal Government is not happy with the recent increase in charges by European ship owners on ships bringing imports into Nigeria and some other West African countries on claims of increasing piracy menace on the territorial waters. To address this issue, the Federal Government, ...
Maritime News, Shippers under the gun to meet new air quality standards Maritime News, Shippers under the gun to meet new air quality standards In the Belgian port of Zeebrugge one spring day, a hulking cargo ship waiting to make its 36-hour run to the Swedish port of Gothenburg sat as a model for European and international efforts to reduce vessel emissions. The German-built Schieborg Delfzijl is one of the ...
Maritime News, Russia Announces Permanent Mediterranean Naval Presence Maritime News, Russia Announces Permanent Mediterranean Naval Presence The first permanent deployment since Soviet times comes as Syrian war grinds on. Russia has deployed a naval unit to the Mediterranean Sea, it said on Thursday, a move President Vladimir Putin said was to defend Russian security but which comes as Moscow faces off with the West over Syria. In ...
Maritime News, DNV: Efficiency through technology choices Maritime News, DNV: Efficiency through technology choices The global shipping community is entering a challenging future, as both demands for economic results and the upcoming environmental requirements will change shipping and lead to significantly cleaner and more efficient operations. This is driving innovation as the need for efficiency is creating new solutions. We have challenged our experts ...
Maritime News, South China Sea, Mediterranean and North Sea are shipping accidents hotspots Maritime News, South China Sea, Mediterranean and North Sea are shipping accidents hotspots Some of the world`s most iconic oceans are also the most at risk according to a new study on shipping accidents released by WWF for World Oceans Day. The South China Sea and East Indies, east Mediterranean and Black Sea, North Sea and British Isles ...
Maritime News, Seaenergy PLC : SeaEnergy launches ship management company Maritime News, Seaenergy PLC : SeaEnergy launches ship management company SeaEnergy, the energy services group, announced yesterday that it is launching a ship management company, SeaEnergy Ship Management Limited, to offer ship management services across the offshore energy sector with a particular specialism in "walk to work". It has recruited the team which formerly operated as Brooklyn Shipping ...
Maritime News, ICS meets with ministers to discuss Arctic shipping Maritime News, ICS meets with ministers to discuss Arctic shipping At a Summit in Oslo on 5 June, Board Members of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) met with Ministers from major shipping nations and the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to discuss Arctic Shipping. The Oslo 2013 Maritime Summit, coordinated by the Norwegian Government ...
Maritime News, For hard-hit Greeks, IMF mea culpa comes too late Maritime News, For hard-hit Greeks, IMF mea culpa comes too late Greeks reacted with a mix of vindication and outrage at the International Monetary Fund's admission it erred in its handling of the country's bailout, berating an apology that comes too late to salvage an economy and countless lives in ruins. Anger was palpable on the streets of ...
Maritime News, Alfa Laval puts energy savings in a wider perspective Maritime News, Alfa Laval puts energy savings in a wider perspective As ship owners and operators continue to be pinched by high fuel prices, one marine supplier is raising the bar when it comes to solutions. Drawing on the industry’s broadest portfolio of equipment and knowledge, Alfa Laval is taking a comprehensive approach that promises sweeping ...
Maritime News, China nudges US out of Iraqi oil boom Maritime News, China nudges US out of Iraqi oil boom After hundreds of thousands of deaths and a decade of US military presence, could China be the ultimate winner of the Iraq War? The Asian giant is expanding its share of the Iraqi oil market at the expense of US firms. Since the fall of Saddam Hussein in ...
Maritime News, Shipping Faces Half Trillion Dollar Environment Costs Maritime News, Shipping Faces Half Trillion Dollar Environment Costs Speaking to delegates at the opening of the Nor-Shipping event in Oslo yesterday, the Chairman of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), Masamichi Morooka, said that impending new legislation to protect the environment potentially presented an additional industry-wide cost of more than half a trillion US dollars between ...