At a conference of The Association of Canadian Port Authorities in Sept-Îles, Quebec, federal Infrastructure Minister Denis Lebel talked about the Asia-Pacific Gateway Corridor Initiative, which included investments in ports in Nanaimo, Vancouver and Prince Rupert.
Investment in Canadian port improvements do not only improve the access and movement of good to markets both domestic and international but also result in significant job creation, Canada’s infrastructure minister recently stated.
“To say that Canadian ports are important to Canada’s economy and the creation of jobs is an understatement,” said Denis Lebel, Canada’s infrastructure minister.
Lebel addressed The Association of Canadian Port Authorities at its recent conference in Sept-Îles, Quebec. He spoke of the important role ports play in Canada’s economy “where domestic and international shipping is central to our prosperity and quality of life.”
Lebel explained how the federal Conservative government’s Asia-Pacific Gateway Corridor Initiative, launched in 2006, resulted in 47 federal projects valued at over $3.5 billion in partnership with all four western provinces and the private sector.
Highlights of these investments include $8.5 million to the Nanaimo Port Authority for a cruise ship terminal facility, over $6.7 million to the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority for the Lynn Creek Rail Bridge Addition and over $1 million for the Prince Rupert Port Authority to invest in the Atlin Terminal Repair and Seismic Upgrade.
“Our ports play a vital role in shipping our resources across the world, to traditional trading partners and new ones, such as those in the Asia Pacific,” said the infrastructure minister.
Lebel noted that the Port of Sept-Îles produces and an estimated 4,000 direct and indirect jobs and approximately $1 billion in economic benefits annually. Also, he said, Atlantic ports and gateways are a priority and catalyst for jobs from port construction improvements to transportation network expansion.
In March 2011 the federal government, along with provincial and private sector partners, announced the Atlantic Gateway and Trade Corridor Strategy. The aim of this strategy is to provide a quick, reliable, and secure transportation network between North American markets and markets in Europe, the Caribbean, Latin America, and Asia via the Suez Canal.
“We’ve announced a number of investments designed to support this gateway and we’re already seeing the results,” said Lebel in his address.
There has been a federal investment of $26.4 million to expand and improve the Port of Belldune Terminal in New Brunswick and since 2007 nearly $4 billion in transport infrastructure investment has been made in Ontario and Quebec to support the continental gateway.
“In fact, this government has provided infrastructure stimulus funding to ports across Canada at a figure of over $169.7 million to improve our supply chain and guarantee competitive access for our Canadian products to worldwide markets,” Lebel said.
“These investments will ensure our ports can compete with any in the world, meaning more jobs for Canadian workers and a growing economy for years to come.”
Canadian ports today handle over 460 million tonnes of cargo annually, totaling about $162 billion worth of goods annually through its 17 major ports, contributing 250,000 direct and indirect jobs and adding $30 billion to Canada’s gross domestic product.
When the St. Lawrence Seaway opened in 1959, the gross tonnage for the entire navigation season totaled 25.1 million, which included all goods from Toronto, Montreal, and beyond.
Today, that production can be replicated at one port alone, such as the Port of Sept-Îles in 2010 which recorded 25.1 million in gross tonnage.
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