Our Economic and Environmental Impact
Marine shipping offers critical public interest benefits as the most fuel and carbon efficient transportation mode.
Economic
Great Lakes-St. Lawrence shipping supports the economic success of a bi-national region with a GDP valued at more than CDN$6 trillion.
Learn more about our economic impacts.
Environmental
Domestic marine shipping produces < O.59% of Canada’s GHG transportation emissions, less than rail and trucks, and it has invested billions in eco-ships and alternative fuels.
Learn how Canadian ship operators are stepping up their climate solutions.
Our Proposals for Sustainable Recovery
Research and Development
Build back better by:
- Incentivizing carbon-reducing technology development and the expansion of alternative fuels.
- Working with the CMC and its members to develop an action plan that suits the specific requirements of inland and coastal shipping to reach a target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
- Government research investments for lake vessels to determine which ballast water treatment systems could work in the Great Lakes operating environment.
Infrastructure
Project infrastructure investments by:
- Funding the National Trade Corridors Fund to target airports, ports, railways, transportation facilities, and access roads and move port infrastructure projects ahead.
- Committing to more icebreaking assets in the Great Lakes and in the lower St. Lawrence River.
- Completing remaining Coast Guard vessel life extension projects and building new ships.
- Funding infrastructure projects to mitigate climactic risks identified by the Transportation Assets Risk Assessment program.
Digital Innovation
Modernize shipping by:
- Additional investment in aids to navigation, such as advancing the use of automatic identification system (AIS) and messages, four-season buoys, and real-time, water currents information for the St. Lawrence Seaway.
- Additional investment in Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) technologies for domestic vessel operators, and for Transport Canada to collaborate with the Seaway and port operators to encourage further investment in shore side systems such as auto-locking and auto-docking.
Impact Stories
See how Marine shipping impacts Canadians.