Abstract

The transportation sector in Canada has historically been under federal government ownership and control. Over the years, however, the marine system has become over-built. It is unable to cover costs and overly dependent on government subsidies. The Canadian government recently enacted legislation to divest the bulk of its regional port and maritime facilities to the provinces, municipalities or private concerns. Reducing the government's operating role in the marine sector reflects the principles of privatization, commercialization and competition already evident throughout Canada's transportation sector. This divestiture policy continues a growing trend among many nation states whereby monetarist policies of privatization, commercialization and deregulation of public goods and services are replacing Keynesian economic policies of active government involvement in the economy. This thesis is a case study of the divestiture process. It focuses on three regional ports in Quebec Baie-Comeau, Tadoussac and Pointe au Pic. It explores the divergencies between the legislation and the reality of the process of divestiture. It also considers how these small communities are adjusting to this restructuring of government services