Let’s talk: Labour shortages in Canada’s marine transportation sector

Transport Canada wants to better understand the possible impacts of labour shortages in Canada’s marine transportation sector and wants your feedback on possible solutions.

Background

• 43% of the marine workforce will retire over the next 10 years, including 52% of engineering officers and 47% of deck officers
• There will be a need to hire roughly 19,000 new workers over the next 10 years, which represents 68% of the workforce
• Vacancy rates for deck officers are around 7%, followed by 6% for engineering officers – higher than the national average of 4%
• Vacancies are highest for positions that are critical to operating a vessel: deck officers and engineering officers

How we’re addressing the seafarer shortage

Transport Canada recognizes the impacts seafarer shortages could have on the marine sector and we’re working to help reduce the impact of these challenges.

• Reciprocal Agreements are now in place with Australia, France, Georgia, Norway, Ukraine, the Republic of the Philippines, and the United Kingdom which allow Transport Canada to recognize foreign-issued certificates issued by these states.
• The Direct Entry (Examination) Program has been streamlined so Transport Canada can issue a Canadian certificate on the same day that an applicant receives permanent residency status. The program evaluates a seafarer’s foreign credentials against Canadian requirements
• Seafarer Placement Recruitment Services are licensed by Transport Canada and give ship owners access to qualified Canadian seafarers who can work on Canadian vessels
• The Department of National Defence’s Equivalencies Program is setting equivalencies to give some naval trades credits towards obtaining a commercial marine certificate. We are working on this program with the Royal Canadian Navy and the Department of Veterans Affairs
• The Marine Training Program is trying to increase the number of people from underrepresented groups, like women and Indigenous Peoples, in the maritime sector through support to partnered training providers

Challenges that remain

Only a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident can hold a certificate of competency issued under the Canada Shipping Act, 2001

This means that a foreign national who trains at a Marine Training Institution in Canada that’s recognized by Transport Canada can’t be granted a Certificate of Competency unless they’re a permanent resident.

While we are not undertaking a review of the Canada Shipping Act, 2001, addressing this issue could be another way to add more people to the pool of qualified seafarers.

We want to hear from you

We want to hear from stakeholders and the Canadian public. Your opinions and feedback are important!

We’re especially interested in hearing from:

• people and groups who work in the marine sector or labour
• maritime associations, and
• the Canadian public