OTTAWA – The Chamber of Marine Commerce welcomed the Government of Canada’s announcement today that it will invest up to $15.6 million in modernizing the Port of Montreal and the St. Lawrence River navigation system.
The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, announced in Montreal earlier today that it would invest in projects that will optimize the container areas in the Maisonneuve and Viau sectors of the Port of Montreal, and increase navigation in the St. Lawrence Channel.
Ray Johnston, President of the Chamber of Marine Commerce, said in a press release that today’s commitment demonstrated the government’s recognition of the value of marine shipping to support Canada’s international trade goals.
The investment will make navigation of the St. Lawrence River channel — a key route for Canadian goods to reach the Atlantic Ocean and overseas markets — more efficient and will benefit the ports of Montreal, Sorel, Bécancour and Trois-Rivieres. Infrastructure investment will also help increase the Port of Montreal’s overall container handling capacity by 12.5 per cent, reaching 1.8 million twenty-foot equivalent units.
Johnston said: “We are pleased to see the Government of Canada continue to invest in marine shipping in this important region of the country — the Continental Gateway. Canada’s network of ports and waterways provides Canadian industries and manufacturers a cost-effective, safe and reliable means of transporting their products, to domestic and overseas markets. Efficient marine shipping will be central to the success of Canada’s economic strategy to diversify and expand its trade relationships.”
Canada’s Continental Gateway is the busiest trade corridor in the country, carrying over 74 per cent of Canada’s trade by truck, train, air or marine. The marine segment of the Gateway includes the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence Seaway and the St. Lawrence River.
Kevin Doherty, CEO of Montreal Gateway Terminals Partnership, which handles container shipments at the Port of Montreal, said: “This is positive news for all port users and reinforces the Government’s confidence in the Port of Montreal and encourages its growth.”
About the Chamber of Marine Commerce
The Chamber of Marine Commerce (CMC) is an Ottawa-based association that represents more than 160 marine industry stakeholders including major Canadian and American shippers, ports, terminals and marine service providers, as well as domestic and international shipowners. The CMC represents the interests of its members by addressing government issues affecting marine transportation. Advocacy extends to both the federal and provincial levels of government and, when appropriate, to U.S. federal and state governments and agencies. The marine industry is vital to our prosperity by enabling efficient trade within North America and around the world. As a safe, efficient and environmentally smart method of carrying freight, the increased use of marine transportation offers opportunities to alleviate highway congestion, improve utilization of waterway capacity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
