Repeal of Pilotage Tariff Regulations

Summary#

The government repealed a set of old pilotage tariff regulations that used to set pilotage fees. The change took effect on June 9, 2021, because pilotage charges are now set by the pilotage authorities under the amended Pilotage Act.

What it does#

• Repeals these four regulations:
  • Atlantic Pilotage Tariff Regulations — Newfoundland and Labrador Non-Compulsory Areas
  • Pacific Pilotage Tariff Regulations
  • Atlantic Pilotage Tariff Regulations, 1996
  • Laurentian Pilotage Tariff Regulations
• Makes those repeals effective on the day the repeal was published in the Canada Gazette, Part II (that publication date is June 9, 2021).
• Reflects that pilotage fees are now established by the regional pilotage authorities under the amended Pilotage Act rather than by these federal tariff regulations.

Who's affected#

• Ship operators, vessel owners and charterers who pay pilotage fees in Canadian waters.
• Pilots and the regional pilotage organizations: the Pacific Pilotage Authority, the Laurentian Pilotage Authority and the Atlantic Pilotage Authority.
• Ports, terminals and other marine service providers that work with pilotage arrangements.
• Government agencies that manage marine regulation, such as Transport Canada (administrative impact).
• An analysis noted under the government’s review tools that the repeal is not expected to affect small businesses.

Why it matters#

• It removes outdated rules from the federal regulations because the three pilotage authorities now set fees themselves.
• For people and companies that pay pilotage, the practical place to find current fees and rules is the websites or published resolutions of the regional pilotage authorities rather than the old federal tariff regulations.
• For most members of the public this is largely housekeeping: it cleans up the regulatory books, but it changes where the official tariff information is published and maintained.