National Harbours Board

The National Harbours Board was the administrative body that controlled the business and service operations in major Canadian ports in the years 1936 to 1983 and was also responsible for coordination and determination of policy, and planning and engineering of capital works. It reported on its activities to Parliament, through the Minister of Transport. The three member board was established by the National Harbours Board Act (1936) as a crown corporation. It was dissolved by the Canada Ports Corporation Act (1983) and replaced by the Ports Canada. This devolved much of the National Harbour Board's former functions to local port authorities maintaining responsibility for ensuring that overall national transportation objectives are met as well as overseeing the Ports Canada Police until that service was disbanded in 1997.