The Oshawa Harbour Commission was established in 1960 and operates under the Harbour Commissions Act 1964. This Act states:

“It is hereby declared that the objective of the national ports’ policy for Canada is to create a port system that:

A) Is an effective instrument of support for the achievement of Canadian international trade objectives, and of national, regional and local economic and social objectives;

B) Is efficient;

C) Provides accessibility and equitable treatment in the movement of goods and persons to users of Canadian ports;

D) Provides Harbour Commissions with a high degree of autonomy for the management and operation of the ports for which they are established, consistent with the responsibility of the Minister to ensure the integrity and efficiency of the national ports system and the optimum deployment of resources; and

E) Is coordinated with other marina activities, and surface and air transportation systems.

THE BOARD

The Oshawa Harbour Commission is governed by a three member Board comprising two representatives appointed by the Federal Minister of Transport, and one member appointed by the Municipality of the City of Oshawa.

Operations and administration are under the jurisdiction of the Chief Executive Officer.