Ports are facilities where ships load and unload cargo or passengers, and in Canada, major ports fall under federal jurisdiction regardless of which city they're located in. The Canada Marine Act governs port authorities for facilities like the Port of Vancouver, Port of Montreal, Port of Halifax, and others. This federal control means municipalities have limited say over port operations, expansion, and environmental management, even though ports significantly impact local communities through traffic, employment, and environmental effects. Ports are crucial to Canada's economy, handling billions of dollars in international trade annually.