Strengthening Canada’s Trade Corridors through Investment in Eastern Ontario Ports
Dear Prime Minister,
Re: Strengthening Canada’s Trade Corridors through Investment in Eastern Ontario Ports
On behalf of the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (EOWC) – representing 103 municipalities across eastern Ontario – and our regional partners, we commend the federal government’s commitment to strengthening Canada’s domestic supply chains while positioning our country as a global trade leader. We stand with you in this mission and urge targeted federal investment in eastern Ontario ports and infrastructure as a critical step toward achieving it. We strongly believe that strategic investment in eastern Ontario’s ports and supporting infrastructure will diversify trade, mitigate risk, and enable producers, farmers, and businesses to capitalize on global market opportunities.
Unlocking “Highway H20”
Eastern Ontario is adjacent to the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario, while also serving as the land transportation connection between Canada’s two largest cities, Toronto and Montréal, via Highway 401. Eastern Ontario also boasts two ports, including Picton Terminals and the Port of Johnstown, that are strategically placed to expand capacity and strengthen Canada’s supply chains, both domestically and globally. The EOWC is also in support of the Hamilton Oshawa Port Authority’s expansion to their Port of Oshawa. This expansion will create additional access for eastern Ontario businesses that current suppliers have to travel by land over long distances through Greater Toronto to reach larger ports.
A coordinated federal approach working alongside provincial and municipal governments, Indigenous partners, businesses, and local communities will ensure these ports unlock the full potential of “Highway H2O.”
Eastern Ontario Ports are a Strong Investment
- Population and workforce growth: Eastern Ontario is a strong growth region, fueling demand for jobs and infrastructure. Across the region, by 2051 the population is expected to grow by 25% (citing Ontario’s Ministry of Finance projections in September 2025).
- High-impact returns: Modest federal investments in smaller communities deliver outsized economic benefits, strengthening supply chains, attracting business, and enhancing quality of life.
- Diversification and risk mitigation: Major ports such as Montréal and Hamilton are nearing capacity. Expanding eastern Ontario’s port infrastructure will relieve bottlenecks and support national efficiency.
- Agricultural productivity: With 46% of Ontario’s agricultural jobs located in eastern Ontario, closer port access will reduce costs for farmers, cut unnecessary transportation, and improve overall efficiency.
Federal Opportunities to Partner to Support Trade Diversification
In today’s challenging global marketplace, marked by trade tensions with the United States, Canada must strengthen its competitive advantage by acting decisively. We call on the federal government to:
1. Eliminate barriers to interprovincial trade. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce estimates that these barriers reduce GDP growth by 7%. Addressing them will help Canada compete internationally while reducing domestic costs.
2. Invest in trade-enabling infrastructure. Municipalities manage 60% of public infrastructure but receive only 10% of tax revenues. In eastern Ontario alone, the municipal infrastructure deficit now exceeds $6 billion, as outlined in the EOWC’s ‘Mind the Gap’ Municipal Infrastructure Policy Paper. Predictable and sustainable federal investment is urgently needed. As one example, the federal Eastern Ontario Development Program was a success in helping deliver projects.
3. Enhance port infrastructure funding. Reinvesting in programs such as the National Trade Corridors Fund will accelerate regional and national economic growth.
4. Strengthen customs clearance capacity. The Canada Border Services Agency must expand marine container examination facilities beyond its current five sites to include the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence corridor. Without this, supply chains will remain constrained.
In the United States, where two inland container ports are already operational beyond the coastal gateway system, with a third scheduled to begin operations in 2026. Currently, more than 20% of marine containers destined for the Greater Toronto Area are routed through U.S. container ports, reflecting both the growing demand for inland access and the limitations of Canada’s existing inspection infrastructure.
5. Remove inequitable regulatory requirements. Currently, U.S. ship operators on the Great Lakes are exempt from ballast water management system requirements that are ineffective in this environment, while Canadian operators face millions in unnecessary costs. Transport Canada must correct this imbalance.
6. Invest in workforce development. Canada’s long-term competitiveness depends on building a skilled marine and infrastructure workforce, coordinated across federal departments and aligned with regional growth.
The EOWC and our partners stand ready to work and ready to grow with the Government of Canada to strengthen trade corridors, grow our economy, and deliver results for communities across the country.
Sincerely,
Chair Bonnie Clark
Media Contacts
Chair Bonnie Clark (Warden of Peterborough County)
info@eowc.org | 705-927-4207
Meredith Staveley-Watson
Director of Government Relations and Policy
info@eowc.org | 647-545-8324