A recent study finds that expanding container service along the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway would inject tens of millions of dollars into the region’s economy. The study, “Unlocking the Potential of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System,” was prepared by Aviseo Conseil for the Chamber of Marine Commerce (CMC). The study evaluated the economic, environmental and supply chain benefits of expanding Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) container clearance services to six additional ports along the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System: Quebec City, Hamilton, Valleyfield, Windsor, Goderich and Picton. 

Currently, the CBSA provides marine container inspection services at five Canadian ports: Halifax, Saint John, Montreal, Prince Rupert and Vancouver. Industry leaders believe this limits supply chain strength and economic development. The report finds that enabling these inland ports to process containers would relieve pressure on the current facilities, improve trade and bolster Canada’s economic resilience.

The economic impact of adding these six ports include: 

• An additional annual business income of $132.4 million across Ontario and Quebec 

• Additional federal tax revenue of $79.1 million 

• Federal investment would recover faster thanks to increased economic income. 

The study also broke down the specific contributions that each of the six ports could provide to the regional economy.

Port of Quebec: 

• Additional annual business income of $59 million 

• The addition of a port that can receive fully loaded vessels 

• Significant reductions in CO2 emissions from trucks 

Hamilton Oshawa Port Authority and Hamilton Container Terminal Inc.: 

• Additional annual business income of $10.5 million 

• Logistics savings of $27.6 million 

• 930,000 fewer truck kilometers annually 

Port of Valleyfield: 

• New business income of $5.84 million annually 

• More capacity to safely handle hazardous material 

• Support of Canada’s Critical Mineral Strategy 

Port of Windsor: 

• New business income of $25.9 million annually 

• Supports EV battery manufacturing 

• Reduces per container transport costs by up to $3,000 

Picton Terminals: 

• Added annual business income of $26.4 million 

• Elimination of tens of thousands of truck trips 

Port of Goderich: 

• Added annual business income of $4.8 million 

• Establishes a new trade corridor between Chicago, Illinois, and Goderich 

This report falls in line with the independent study by Martin Associates released in July 2023 that found the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System contributed $66.1 billion CAD ($50.9 billion USD) in economic activity across North America in 2022. This new study further cements the importance of the seaway system, stating that enhancing CBSA services aligns with federal priorities such as economic competitiveness, climate action, trade diversification and infrastructure efficiency.  

A Call to Action 

The release of this new report comes after a coalition of Great Lakes stakeholders asked for government support to protect and improve the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway. Citing the vital role the system plays in trade and economic development, nearly 100 Great Lakes stakeholders, including leaders of ports, shipping operators and railway companies, gathered in September at the Port of Montreal to develop a list of priorities that they believe require government support. 

Attendees 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 Corporation (GLS). 

The organizing committee includes the St. Lawrence Economic Development Council, the CMC, 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 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.”