Board of Directors


Overview

The Hamilton Port Authority was created on May 1, 2001 as a result of the issuance of letters patent pursuant to the Canada Marine Act. The Hamilton Port Authority (HPA) is the successor corporation to The Hamilton Harbour Commissioners, an organization established by The Hamilton Harbour Commissioners Act of 1912.

The HPA is governed by a seven member Board charged with administering, operating and developing the harbour in a financially self-sufficient manner consistent with the national ports policy objectives. The Board is responsible to the Federal Minister of Transport.

It is the responsibility of the Board to exercise oversight of the activities of the Hamilton Port Authority, acting honestly, in good faith and in the best interests of the Port Authority.

The directors of the Authority shall be appointed to hold office as follows:
  1. the Governor in Council appoints one (1) individual nominated by the Minister;
  2. the Corporation of the City of Hamilton, in consultation with the Corporation of the City of Burlington, appoints one (1) individual;
  3. the Province of Ontario appoints one (1) individual; and
  4. the Governor in Council appoints the four (4) remaining individuals nominated by the Minister in consultation with the HPA Nominating Committee.

Directors serve a three-year term and are eligible for renewal only once. A period of 12 months must pass after the expiry of the second term before the individual may be eligible for another appointment.

Board of Directors

Executive Staff

Hamilton Port Authority Nominating Committee

The permanent Nominating Committee of the HPA is composed of four members; one person elected by users in Class 1; two persons elected by users in Class 2; and one person elected by users in Class 3.

Representing the Class 1 User Group: Mr. Michael Kennedy, ArcelorMittal Dofasco Inc.
Representing the Class 2 User Group: Mr. Michael Kirkpatrick, Federal Marine Terminals, Chair
  Mr. Mark Roe, Bunge Canada
Representing the Class 3 User Group: Mr. Werner Plessl, Hamilton Waterfront Trust

The users within Class 1 will recommend potential candidates for one of the User Director positions; the users within Class 2 will recommend potential candidates for two of the User Director positions; and the users within Class 3 will recommend potential candidates for one of the User Director positions.

If there is a vacant User Director position, or an anticipated vacancy, the chief executive officer, in consultation with the Nominating Committee, shall coordinate the development of a list of potential candidates in a timely manner so as to ensure that the length of any User Director vacancy is minimized.

After review of the nominations, the Nominating Committee provides recommendations to the Minister of Transport. Subsequently, the Minister will nominate individuals to the Governor in Council to serve on the Board of the Hamilton Port Authority.

Definition of a "User"

As outlined in the Canada Marine Act and the Hamilton Port Authority's Letters Patent, a "User" is defined as a person (i.e. individual or corporation) who makes commercial use of, or provides services at the Port.

Classes of Users

As set out in the Hamilton Port Authority Letters Patent, Schedule "D":

HAMILTON PORT AUTHORITY
CLASSES OF USERS
  1. Private Docks
  2. Port Authority Docks and Related Businesses
  3. All other port users, including but not limited to labour, environmental and recreational users

Experience and Knowledge Requirements

Directors shall have generally acknowledged and accepted stature within the transportation industry or the business community and relevant knowledge and extensive experience related to the management of a business, to the operation of a port or to maritime trade.

Who is Ineligible to Sit as a Director

The following persons are not eligible to be appointed as Directors of a Port Authority according to the Canada marine Act, Section 16 (a-h):

  1. An individual who is a mayor, councillor, officer or employee of a municipality mentioned in the Port's Letters Patent (Hamilton, Burlington);
  2. An individual who is a member of the Legislature of a Province, or an officer or employee of the Public Service or of a Crown corporation of a Province (Ontario);
  3. A Senator or a member of Parliament or an officer or employee of the federal public service or of a federal Crown corporation;
  4. An individual who is not a resident Canadian, as defined in Subsection 2(1) of the Canada Business Corporations Act;
  5. An individual who is a director, officer or employee of a person who is a user of the Port;
  6. An individual who is under eighteen years of age;
  7. An individual who has been declared mentally incompetent by a court in Canada or elsewhere, or;
  8. An individual who is "an undischarged bankrupt".

For further information

Web-based resources:

HPA Contacts:

Mr. Robert Hart - Chief Administrative Officer/Corporate Secretary
Hamilton Port Authority
605 James St. N.
Hamilton, ON L8L 1K1
Phone: (905) 525-4330
Fax: (905) 525-7258