As global supply chains face increasing pressure, Canada remains heavily reliant on just three East Coast ports—Halifax, Saint John, and Montréal—for the majority of its container imports. This concentration creates bottlenecks, weakens trade resilience, and limits the country’s productivity.

The findings of our study are clear:

• Expanding CBSA services at additional St. Lawrence and Great Lakes ports would diversify trade corridors and strengthen the resilience of Canada’s logistics network.
• These projects would generate more than $130 million in net annual economic benefits, including significant regional and fiscal impacts.
• They would also help reduce GHG emissions, support regional economic development, and improve the competitiveness of Canadian trade.
• This initiative directly aligns with Canada’s national priorities: increasing productivity, diversifying trade, advancing the energy transition, and bolstering economic security.

We invite you to read the full study to understand how optimizing the St. Lawrence and Great Lakes port network can become a powerful and practical lever for building a stronger, more resilient Canadian economy.