ST. CATHARINES — Premier Doug Ford today announced that the Ontario government is investing over $90 million through the Ontario Shipbuilding Grant Program (OSGP) to increase capacity in the province’s shipbuilding industry as part of its plan to protect Ontario.
The investment will help meet the growing demand for Ontario-made vessels, help Ontario shipbuilders support Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy and boost the economic competitiveness of Ontario’s shipbuilding and its supply chain while creating thousands of good-paying jobs across the marine sector. The investment is part of Ontario’s ongoing work to support national security and defence, as outlined in the framework for the Ontario Defence Industrial Strategy.
“As Canada and our allies work together, making record investments in defence and global security, Ontario is ready to build the ships that will protect our country and keep our economy moving,” said Premier Ford. “Today’s investment will increase the resilience of Ontario’s marine industry, support thousands of good-paying jobs across Ontario and give businesses more ways to get their products to market.”
Through the OSGP, the province is investing $11 million into Ontario Shipyards, with operations across the Great Lakes; over $8 million into Allied Marine and Industrial in Port Colborne; more than $6 million into MetalCraft Marine Inc. in Kingston and $1.1 million into Connor Industries in Parry Sound. The funding will be used for skills training, infrastructure improvements and new machinery and equipment, helping to position Ontario as a global leader in the “blue economy” and marine trade. The province will also expand the OSGP to provide up to $64 million in future funding.
“The marine sector is a vital driver of Ontario’s economy, contributing hundreds of millions of dollars to the province’s GDP each year,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “Our government is making historic investments in Ontario’s shipbuilding industry to ensure the sector’s long-term prosperity and generate good-paying jobs that drive economic growth for years to come.”
The OSGP will help Ontario-based shipbuilders increase Canada’s capacity under the National Shipbuilding Strategy, a long-term project to renew the country’s fleet of combat and non-combat vessels for the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Coast Guard and Transport Canada. As part of the broader federal Defence Industrial Strategy, Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy focuses on three pillars: construction of large vessels, construction of small vessels, and vessel repair, refit and maintenance. Supporting this work will complement Ontario’s Defence Industrial Strategy by ensuring the province’s shipbuilders capitalize on increased federal defence spending, which could reach $150 billion annually by 2035 and generate lasting economic benefits for Ontario workers.
(Photo of Ontario Shipyards and Dreamstime image of Doug Ford)