Attendees also included former Quebec premier Jean Charest, former Conservative MP and federal cabinet minister Lisa Raitt and Adam Tindall-Schlicht, former administrator of the U.S. Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corp.

The organizing committee includes the St. Lawrence Economic Development Council, the Chamber of Marine Commerce, the Ontario Marine Council, the St. Lawrence Shipoperators’ Association, CargoM, the Port of Montreal and the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) 

The group lists a series of initiatives needed to strengthen the waterway: 

• Invest in infrastructure 

• Accelerate the energy transition 

• Prepare tomorrow’s workforce 

• Strengthen the maritime and shipbuilding industry 

The coalition presented a joint declaration at the Leadership Summit of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers, which took place in Quebec City from October 4 to 6.  

The group is urging Canadian and U.S. governments to: 

• Ensure massive and sustained strategic investments 

• Establish flexible, modern and optimized policy and regulatory frameworks 

• Actively support workforce development 

• Strengthen cross-border governance of the corridor 

In a statement, the coalition said, “When governments think about the maritime industry, their first instinct is to look west and north, but we must not forget that the St. Lawrence and Great Lakes industry is just as essential to the future of our region and North America. This summit in Montreal was extremely fruitful. It allowed us to set clear priorities. These priorities will enable us to speak with one voice in the years to come to advance the industry’s priorities. [The] meeting also served to reaffirm our commitment to a tariff-free trade agreement between Canada, the United States and Mexico.” 

Image courtesy of SLSMC