Interswitching Rates and Tribunal Ruling

Summary#

This Canada Gazette item reports a few administrative actions. On December 14, 2022, the Canadian International Trade Tribunal rejected a procurement complaint brought by Higher Standard Sales (HSS) about a government tender for sea containers. The Canadian Transportation Agency also published the regulated rail interswitching rates for 2023.

What it does#

• The Canadian International Trade Tribunal decided that the complaint by Higher Standard Sales (HSS) about Solicitation W0130-21GC31/WS3390107314 (a Department of Public Works and Government Services procurement for sea containers) was not valid. HSS had argued its bid met the technical requirements and that the winning bid was abnormally low.
• The Canadian Transportation Agency published the regulated interswitching rates that will apply in 2023. The rates listed are:
  • Zone 1: $410 per car; $65 per car for a car block
  • Zone 2: $540 per car; $105 per car for a car block
  • Zone 3: $535 per car; $90 per car for a car block
  • Zone 4A: $515 per car; $115 per car for a car block
  • Zone 4B: $515 plus $6.00 per additional kilometre; $115 plus $1.30 per additional kilometre for a car block
• The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) section notes that the commission posts decisions and applications online and lists some licence applications and deadlines (for example, a deadline of February 3, 2023 for several broadcaster applications).

Who's affected#

• Businesses that bid on the sea-container procurement, including Higher Standard Sales (HSS) and the winning bidder. Government procurement officials at the Department of Public Works and Government Services and the Department of National Defence are also directly involved.
• Rail shippers and freight companies who pay or charge interswitching fees. The published 2023 rates affect the cost of moving rail cars between railways over short distances.
• Broadcasters and applicants listed by the CRTC, and anyone tracking broadcasting licence changes or consultations (deadlines like February 3, 2023 may matter to them).

Why it matters#

• The Tribunal ruling closes a formal challenge to a federal procurement. That matters to suppliers who sell to the government because it shows how a complaint about technical compliance or an “abnormally low” bid was handled in this case.
• The interswitching rates set by the Canadian Transportation Agency are concrete price points that can change shipping costs for businesses that move goods by rail. Those costs can affect supply-chain expenses and shipping choices.
• The CRTC postings are part of routine regulatory transparency. They tell broadcasters and the public about licence applications, decisions, and when to comment.