Ports and Harbours as Special Management Areas

As autonomous federal entities, port authorities in Canada have long been considered as special management areas. Canada’s system for ports managed by port authorities, public ports, and small craft harbours is explained with a focus on how they manage lands and waters within their jurisdiction by using their powers for land use planning and vessel traffic management. Attention is given to governance and how ports use zoning powers to promote efficiency, safety, security, and environmental concerns such as decarbonization of shipping and marine conservation. Canada’s port and harbour practice is assessed from the perspectives of spatial use, governance powers, and environmental protection. The chapter concludes on the practice of ports to treat land use planning and marine spatial planning as a continuum.