By Leo Ryan, Editor
In today’s turbulent economic, trade and geopolitical environment, it has become more vital than ever to invest massively in infrastructure. This was a central message which emerged from a luncheon-conference staged in Montreal on June 18 by the St. Lawrence Shipoperators featuring former Quebec Premier Jean Charest and Mario Lefebvre, Director and Senior Economist at Aviseo Consulting. Saul Polo, General Manager of SLS, acted as moderator.
A prominent member of the Council on Canada-U.S. Relations formed by the Carney Liberal government, Mr. Charest first of all underlined Canada’s stature as a maritime nation with three oceans and a current daunting period for defending Canada’s sovereignty in its Arctic region amidst rising Russian and Chinese ambitions.
After welcoming the efforts being taken to liberalize inter-provincial commerce, Mr. Lefebvre stressed the importance of expanding competitive infrastructure at Canadian ports – especially in response to the global tariff war ignited by the Trump Administration.
In this connection, Mr. Charest said “a lot should involve marine infrastructure” among the nationally-significant projects now being considered by the federal government.
Turning to the trade conflict with the United States, Mr. Charest indicated he was encouraged that Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Trump appeared to get along well (le courant passe).
“They are speaking to each other regularly,” though the latest developments suggest the tariff issue is far from settled.
“Tariffs or no tariffs.” Mr. Charest went on, “the Americans will always be (a major) part of our lives.”
While recognizing the necessity of diversifying Canada’s trade relations, Mr. Charest stated: “Gravity attracts us to the United States.”
“But generally speaking, we need to increase trade with Europe and especially Asia.”
Mr. Charest also described Japan as “the flavour of the day” and evoked the potential big benefits of a free trade agreement slated to completed by the end of 2025 with the 11-state Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
In Europe, he noted, countries like Germany are investing 1.5 trillion euros in building infrastructure.
On the trade front with Europe, Mr. Charest said he was “impressed” to see European trade rising through the Port of Montreal. “And what is part of this story? Steel shipments coming from Spain that helped work on the Samuel-de-Champlain bridge.”
Immigration perspective
In his concluding remarks, Mr. Charest turned his attention to the immigration file.
Regarding the demographic situation, he said Canada needs more people. “We need professionals, trades people and unskilled workers. The word immigration must come with the word integration. We are in a unique occasion for Canada to take control (se reprendre en main).”
Otherwise, Mr. Charest said he feared that enterprises will need to be closed due to lack of sufficient labour. Among other things, he urged the Quebec government to change and “simplify” its immigration policy.
(Photo by Sophie Belina Brzozowska, from left to right: Mario Lefebvre, Director and Senior Economist at Aviseo Consulting; Jean Charest, former premier of Quebec, partner at Therrien Couture Joli-Cœur; and Saul Polo, General Manager, St. Lawrence Shipoperators (SLS).