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.

“The quality of the discussions made it possible to effectively raise awareness among federal counterparts about the challenges facing the sector and to position the Association as a credible and engaged partner on these matters.” Saul Polo, President & CEO

Four Themes Advanced with a Unified Voice

The outreach efforts conveyed the priorities of domestic carriers across four key areas:

-        Cabotage and strategic infrastructure

-        Marine energy transition

-        Workforce and training

-        Arctic and logistical resilience

Contributing to Ongoing Federal Consultations

This advocacy day comes at a particularly timely moment. The federal government has launched several major consultations to which the St. Lawrence Ship Operators intends to contribute actively.

Employment and Social Development Canada’s consultation, “Building a Strong Canada for Everyone, Powered by Canadian Workers,” provides an opportunity to demonstrate that there is a significant public interest in better managing the impacts of prolonged labor disputes on critical transportation infrastructure, while respecting a balanced labor relations framework for all parties.

Transport Canada’s consultation, “Strengthening Canadian Economic Unity Through Trade and Transportation,” in turn invites the Shipowners’ to advocate for the St. Lawrence-Great Lakes’ role as an indispensable commercial corridor — a national asset that is too often underestimated.

Follow-Up and Next Steps

St. Lawrence Ship Operators will continue its follow-up efforts in the coming weeks to sustain this momentum and maintain an active presence with federal stakeholders.