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CANADIAN INDUSTRY ONLINE - FEBRUARY/MARCH 2014
This month, Canadian Industry is pleased
to present an exclusive with Transport
Minister Lisa Raitt.
M
INI STER RA I TT WAS
first
elected to the House of Com-
mons in 2008 and re-elected in 2011,
and was appointed as the Minister of
Transport in July 2013. She formerly
served as Minister of Natural Resourc-
es and Minister of Labour. Prior to
being elected to the House, Minister
Raitt was the President and CEO of the
Toronto Port Authority.
Transport Canada promotes safe
and secure transportation systems
across the country. Canada’s transpor-
tation system enables the efficient flow
of people and goods; protects people
from accidents and exposure to dan-
gerous goods; protects the environ-
ment from pollution that can result
from such events; and contributes to a
healthy population, a high quality of
life and a prosperous economy. Trans-
port Canada’s activities include work
in rail, marine, air, and road transpor-
tation systems.
Why is transportation so critical
to remote community development
and why is this so important in Cana-
da?
Where there are places that don’t
have community airports, we often
have residents coming to us to inquire
about a rail line or an airport. This is
because Canadians in every province
recognize the need for development
and interconnectivity for their commu-
nity.
The Northern route is really im-
portant to us because we have so many
smaller communities there. We have
resources in the North that can be un-
locked—so various methods of trans-
port, as well as the potential for marine
development are very important. Our
country’s Northern strategy is very
important.
One of the reasons we inject
money into projects like the multi-
user dock in Sept-Iles is because it is a
great place to connect to the rest of the
world. Iron ore from northern Quebec
and Labrador can be shipped down to
“
Canadians in
every province
recognize the
need for devel-
opment and in-
terconnectiv-
ity for their
community.”
MINISTER RAITT
