The Ontario Marine Council met with the Government of Ontario yesterday as part of its annual “Queens Park Day,” which included engagement with Premier Ford and multiple ministers to advance shared goals to strengthen supply chains, connect Ontarians with great jobs, and grow the provincial economy.
“The initiatives proposed in the first ever Ontario Marine Transportation Strategy launched by the Government of Ontario align perfectly with the government’s plan to protect Ontario at a time of economic uncertainty,” noted Hannah Bowlby, Chair of the Ontario Marine Council. “As the Government of Canada rolls out its own initiatives to pursue economic growth, diversification, and security, the time is now to advance provincial investment in the marine shipping sector so that those investments can stack with Federal support to maximize benefits.”
Areas that the Ontario Marine Council have prioritized for action include:
- Education: Investing in Georgian College’s Centre for Marine Training and Research, which is Ontario’s centre of excellence for marine training and support recruitment into marine careers, and reducing financial barriers for learners.
- Infrastructure: Establishing a Provincial Marine Project Development Fund.
- Sustainability: Supporting the inherent advantages marine shipping offers with respect to sustainability by implementing a Marine Clean Fuel Incentive Program modelled on Québec’s approach to encourage domestic alternative fuel production and adoption.
“As Ontario is home to some of the largest commercial ports on the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway, as well as vital ship operating and ship building companies, there are unique opportunities to enhance the province’s position as a destination, a gateway to North America’s industrial heartland, and a vital link in the global supply chain,” noted Ms. Bowlby. “We are eager to work with the Ontario Government to seize the immense opportunities that come from bolstering the marine shipping sector, and to seeing the Ontario Marine Transportation Strategy serve as a key pillar to the overall approach of Protect Ontario.”
Key Facts
- The marine sector in Ontario contributes $10 billion in economic activity and $3.9 billion in annual income.
- Ontario’s marine sector supports over 70,000 jobs, both on ship and on shore.
- Each year, the marine sector in Ontario handles approximately 61.3 million metric tons of cargo.
(Photo of Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario with OMC Members at OMC’s 2026 Queen’s Park Day)