The Windsor Port Authority…

The Windsor Port Authority is fully supportive and grateful to the Ontario Government for its introduction of Ontario's first Marine Transportation Strategy.

As a port in a border community, we know all too well the intricate economic relationship and ties with our neighboring American states. So many are the primary markets for our goods and services, as Ontario is to them.

At Port Windsor, we also know that Great lakes shipping is different from trans-oceanic shipping in that the bulk of our trade is within the Great Lakes... with all of the 8 Great Lakes States and Quebec. We move bulk product such as grain, salt, aggregates and steel essential to our economy and way of life in a manner that is safe, reliable and low in environmental impacts. To move one tonne of cargo on a ship produces approximately 1 g of CO2 compared to approximately 3 by rail or 9 by truck,. This is a huge environmental advantage in addition to removing trucks from congested highways in Ontario.

We are particularly pleased with the creation of the proposed Ontario Marine Partnership and Development Office. This one-window approach to government recognizes that the issues are multi-faceted and inter-connected.- transportation, sure, but also economic development, labor, skills development, regional economic development.

A system integrated transportation HUBS- road, rail and Marine- not only strengthens Ontario's economic advantage, but also improves our environmental performance.