Maxime Bernier News

The Canadian Press reported that federal politicians say Canada is considering regulations to ban liquefied natural gas supertankers from a sensitive waterway in the Bay of Fundy, risking renewed territorial tensions with the United States. Maxime Bernier, Canada's new minister of foreign affairs, assured a citizens' group on Sunday that Canada is opposed to the prospect of LNG supertankers navigating the treacherous waters that lead into Passamaquoddy Bay between Maine and New Brunswick. Passamaquoddy Bay lies between Maine and New Brunswick and any supertanker traffic would have to cross through Head Harbour Passage, a narrow waterway that Canada considers internal waters. While the U.S.

The federal government is keeping afloat a subsidy program for buyers of Canadian-built ships, reported the CP. Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay and Industry Minister Maxime Bernier said Thursday that Ottawa will renew and add $50m over three years to the Structured Financing Facility, which reduces the interest cost of loans used to buy Canadian-built ships. Thursday's statement noted that the government is also proceeding with more than $3 billion in ship procurement, including the $2.9-billion Joint Support Ship program and $324 million for six new Coast Guard vessels.