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St. Lawrence Shipowners welcomes agreement reached on the St. Lawrence Seaway
[Press Release] St. Lawrence Shipowners welcomes the ratification of a new four-year collective agreement between the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation and its unionized employees represented by UNIFOR.
St. Lawrence Shipowners commends both parties for reaching an agreement that ensures continuity of Seaway operations.
Sep 241 min read


Bill C-39: Strengthening trade corridors while protecting the Canadian fleet
[Press release] St. Lawrence Shipoperators welcomes several measures proposed in Bill C-39, the Building Canada Strong Act, to improve trade corridor performance, facilitate port investment and streamline regulatory processes. These measures reflect several priorities advocated by the marine industry.
Sep 222 min read


Urgent investments needed for Eastern Quebec ports
[Press Review] Several port facilities in Eastern Quebec require major modernization investments, according to St. Lawrence Shipowners.
In some cases, reconstruction work would also be required “to avoid operational limitations or partial closures that would negatively affect the regional and national economy,” the association stated Thursday during the Shipowners Rendez-Vous in Rivière-du-Loup.
Sep 212 min read


Shipowners call for accelerated investment in North Shore port infrastructure
[Press Review] Shipowners say urgent action is needed to modernize port infrastructure on Quebec’s North Shore, including the Multi-User Dock in Sept-Îles, to meet the current and future needs of businesses.
St. Lawrence Shipowners has identified five major projects on the North Shore as priorities. The association, which brings together 170 maritime businesses, is emphasizing the importance of accelerating investment in port infrastructure.
Sep 212 min read


In Rivière-du-Loup, the maritime community comes together to discuss Eastern Quebec’s key issues
On Thursday, September 17, St. Lawrence Shipowners brought together more than 100 participants in Rivière-du-Loup for a luncheon conference focused on the role of marine transportation in supply chains and the economic development of Eastern Quebec. Businesses, regional partners and members of the research community gathered to discuss the sector’s needs and opportunities for regional growth.
Sep 211 min read


Port infrastructure: St. Lawrence stakeholders call for accelerated investment in St. Lawrence ports
[Press release] Gathered in Rivière-du-Loup for the Shipowners’ Luncheon, St. Lawrence Shipowners and other St. Lawrence stakeholders underscored the importance of accelerating investment in Quebec’s port infrastructure, particularly in Eastern Quebec, to meet the current and future needs of businesses, supply chains and communities served by the St. Lawrence.
Sep 173 min read


Shipowners are calling for predictable, multi-year funding to maintain and expand their river shuttle services
[Press Review] The government’s approach significantly limits their ability to provide services. — In its 2025 report, the Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM) recorded more than 543,000 trips across Montreal’s six metropolitan river shuttle routes, an 18% increase compared with the previous year.
Sep 153 min read


Navigating blind: River shuttles want earlier answers
[Press review ] As river shuttles continue to grow in popularity across the Greater Montreal area, Navark says it is becoming increasingly difficult to manage a public transit network without knowing what the next season will look like.
Sep 42 min read


Navigating Blind: River Shuttles Call for Reliable and Predictable Funding
[Press release] St. Lawrence Shipoperators, together with Croisières AML and Navark, are drawing attention to the precarious nature of funding for river shuttle services in Quebec. Despite growing ridership, these services remain vulnerable because funding is provided on an ad hoc basis and is often confirmed too late to properly plan upcoming seasons.
Aug 214 min read


Federal support for steel transportation expands to marine shipping
[News release] St. Lawrence Shipowners welcomes the Government of Canada’s decision to expand the support measure for the interprovincial transportation of Canadian steel to marine shipping. This decision recognizes the essential role of marine transportation in moving industrial volumes and ensures greater fairness across transportation modes.
Aug 102 min read


Ship operators call for the St. Lawrence Seaway to remain open longer in winter
[Press review] Since Donald Trump’s return to the White House, Ottawa, Ontario and Quebec have stepped up announcements aimed at boosting local production and interprovincial trade. As some of this trade also moves by ship, the St. Lawrence Ship Operators (SLS) would like to see the St. Lawrence Seaway remain open longer during the winter.
Aug 63 min read


Ontario and Quebec's marine industry welcomes Premiers Ford and Fréchette’s call for a strong maritime strategy
[Joint Press Release] The St. Lawrence Economic Development Council (Sodes), the Ontario Marine Council (OMC), and the St. Lawrence Shipoperators (Armateurs du Saint-Laurent, ASL) today issued the following joint statement in response to positive remarks made by Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette and Ontario Premier Doug Ford at this week's Council of the Federation in Charlottetown regarding the marine shipping sector.
Jul 233 min read


Canada at the Crossroads of the Waters: Asserting Our Maritime Sovereignty, from the Great Lakes to the St. Lawrence and the Arctic
[Press review] As Canada sets its sights on doubling exports beyond the United States, a logistical reality cannot be ignored: to compete on the world stage, we cannot limit ourselves to rethinking our land-based infrastructure.
Jun 302 min read


St. Lawrence Ship Operators discuss St. Lawrence-Great Lakes corridor with U.S. Ambassador and Consul General in Québec City
[Press review] St. Lawrence Ship Operators convened a roundtable discussion on June 3 at the residence of the U.S. Consul General in Québec City, bringing together U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra and Consul General Anne Dudte. This exclusive meeting, organized in partnership with the U.S. Consulate General in Québec City, brought together senior executives of leading organizations in the marine and shipbuilding industry.
Jun 82 min read


Shipowners’ Day in Ottawa: Four Strategic Priorities for Domestic Marine Transport
St. Lawrence Ship Operators held its Shipowners’ Day in Ottawa on June 1 and 2, 2026. The event brought together 16 participants who conducted 26 targeted meetings with federal decision-makers, including 2 ministers, representatives from 9 departments, 9 Members of Parliament, and 3 Senators.
Jun 41 min read


Canada’s Merchant Fleet: A Strategic Asset for Economic Sovereignty
[Opinion Letter] The annual general meeting held this spring was an opportunity to take stock of a landmark year for the St. Lawrence Ship Operators. It confirmed the essential role of our association in representing, convening, and promoting domestic marine shipping — and laid the groundwork for a 2026 that promises to be equally significant.
Jun 32 min read


Diversify markets with our blue highway
[Press review] Quebec’s maritime industry is expected to play a role in the diversification of markets driven by the current global geopolitical situation. In this context, the recent approval allowing the Port of Quebec to become an international container terminal represents a significant advantage. However, experts believe the sector still faces numerous challenges.
May 53 min read


Canada expands CBSA customs service at the Port of Québec
Today, the Honourable Joël Lightbound, Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement, and Lieutenant of Quebec, on behalf of the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety, announced that Canada, together with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), will grant the Port of Québec the designation to become a first port of arrival capable of receiving international marine containers.
Apr 244 min read


Parliament Hill Day in Québec City
On March 31, 2026, the St. Lawrence Ship Operators held a series of meetings at the National Assembly to represent their members' voices and engage public decision-makers in support of stronger alignment with industry needs and renewed policy directions focused on the future of maritime transportation.
Mar 312 min read


Ship Operators call for greater support from Quebec
[Press review] As Quebec prepares for its pre-budget consultations, the St. Lawrence Ship Operators (SLS) are calling on the provincial government to return to the table with a renewed strategy for developing the marine corridor and revitalizing Short Sea Shipping. According to the association, expanding this mode of transportation would contribute to decarbonization by removing trucks from the road.
Feb 102 min read
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