Bill C-39: St. Lawrence Shipowners support faster project approvals and call for the removal of clause 289

Appearing before the Legislative Committee reviewing Bill C-39, Saul Polo also emphasized the importance of a strike notice period that reflects the operational realities of marine transportation.

[Press release] QUÉBEC CITY, October 28, 2026 — Saul Polo, President and CEO of St. Lawrence Shipowners, appeared before the Legislative Committee reviewing Bill C-39. He welcomed measures to strengthen trade corridors and accelerate logistics infrastructure projects, while calling for the removal of clause 289, which proposes an emergency exemption from Canada's coasting trade regime. Étienne Duchesne, Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors of St. Lawrence Shipowners, joined him by videoconference.

For shipowners, predictable review processes, improved federal coordination and decisions made within clear timelines can help ports and other parts of the supply chain respond to trade demands. Corridor planning must draw on the experience of vessel operators, ports and terminals, while taking into account the regional realities of the St. Lawrence–Great Lakes network.

“We are calling for the current regime to be maintained and for this proposed exemption to be removed,” said Saul Polo.

Clause 289 would allow foreign vessels to conduct coasting trade activities without a licence in certain emergency situations. St. Lawrence Shipowners maintains that the existing framework already allows foreign vessels to be used when no suitable Canadian vessel is available, and that expedited processing mechanisms are already in place. The organization therefore recommends that the Committee remove clause 289 and preserve the existing protections under the Coasting Trade Act.

St. Lawrence Shipowners is also calling for a 14-day notice period for strikes and lockouts affecting marine operations. This would give shipowners, ports, terminals and their customers sufficient time to adjust vessel schedules, staffing and cargo-handling operations.

St. Lawrence Shipowners looks forward to continuing its collaboration with the Committee and the government to improve the efficiency of the marine transportation network and strengthen supply chain resilience, while maintaining a strong Canadian fleet.