In a joint letter to three federal government ministers, Great Lakes and St. Lawrence mayors have joined marine industry stakeholders to “unlock growth potential through HY H20” by eliminating a critical barrier: the limited clearance services by the Canada Border Services Agency of international containers.
The mayors point out that “the clearance of international containers along Hwy H2O is concentrated in one port facility, and no complementary capacity elsewhere on the Canadian side of the system.
(The port facility referred to is at Montreal.)
“While this existing capacity is essential, the absence of additional confirmed clearance options at other ports — including Hamilton, Québec City, Windsor, Picton, Port Colborne, and Goderich — leaves the system less flexible and under-utilized.
“The recent withdrawal of services by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) from the Port of Valleyfield in 2024 has further reduced our collective capacity. This is happening in a context where American ports on the East Coast are gradually taking over business destined for Canada, with containers from ports south of the border then being transported by truck and rail to our region. This not only creates congestion but also prevents the development of logistical chains that support a Canada Strong economy and well-paid jobs for our residents.”
In a letter to Minister of Transport Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Public Safety Gary Anandasangaree and Minister of Industry Melanie Joy, the mayors of Montreal, St. Catherines, Quebec City, Hamilton, Windsor, Colbourne, Goderich and Valleyfield stressed their belief that the Great Lakes/Seaway corridor was “essential not only for diversifying Canada’s global trade connections but also for building a more integrated, resilient, and competitive national economy.”
“In the context of global instability and growing pressure on our supply chains, freshwater maritime transport — and particularly short sea shipping — represents an underutilized but strategic solution,” said the mayors, several of whom are Board members of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative. “It offers real potential to reduce overdependence on road infrastructure, increase trade access to overseas markets, and strengthen east-west and north-south linkages among Canadian regions — helping to advance the federal government’s vision for “one Canadian economy” and a more self-reliant “Canada Strong” approach.
(Photo of Port of Hamilton)