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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.

[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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

[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.