Great Lakes Pilotage Tariff Repealed

Summary#

This final regulation repeals the Great Lakes Pilotage Tariff Regulations. The repeal took effect on the day the regulation was published in the Canada Gazette, Part II — November 23, 2022. It reflects a change that lets the pilotage authority set its own charges instead of listing them in regulations.

What it does#

• Removes the Great Lakes Pilotage Tariff Regulations so they no longer apply.
• Confirms that pilotage charges for the Great Lakes are now set by the Great Lakes Pilotage Authority through its board and published using a formal charging method developed after amendments to the Pilotage Act in June 2020.
• Notes that anyone unhappy with published charges can file an objection with the Canadian Transportation Agency (the process for doing that is set out in the Act).
• States that the repeal came into force on publication day: November 23, 2022.

Who's affected#

• Operators and owners of vessels that use pilotage services on the Great Lakes — they will be charged under the Authority’s published fees rather than fees listed in the old regulations.
• Great Lakes Pilotage Authority, which now sets and publishes the charges by board resolution.
• The Canadian Transportation Agency, which handles objections to the charges.
• Government bodies involved in marine safety and shipping, including Transport Canada (contact in the original notice).

The government’s small-business review concluded this repeal does not affect small businesses.

Why it matters#

• It shifts fee-setting from a fixed regulation to charges decided and published by the pilotage authority. That can make it easier to update fees to match costs and operations.
• For ship operators, the practical result is that pilotage fees will come from the Authority’s published schedule rather than the old regulations. If they disagree, they can challenge the fees through the agency named in the law.
• The change removes an obsolete regulation and reduces duplication after the Pilotage Act was amended.