Messages from our Ministers

Lawrence Cannon

Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities

“Canada’s prosperity and quality of life depend on our success as a trading nation. The Continental Gateway is an essential component of Canada’s multimodal transportation system and a strategic gateway for international trade within North America and with the rest of the world. I am pleased with the strong partnership established with the provinces of Ontario and Quebec and industry leaders to ensure the initiative’s success.”

Julie Boulet

Quebec Transportation Minister

For the Minister of Transports Quebec, the collaboration between the governments of Quebec, Ontario and Canada along with the public and private sectors, is essential. "We are working together to harmonize the development and the interconnectivity of all of the four modes of transportation, for infrastructure as well as for the related legislative, regulatory and operational aspects that could impact commercial trade activities, all the while taking into account the principles of sustainable development."

Jim Bradley

Ontario Transportation Minister

“The Continental Gateway is a key infrastructure priority. It fuels our economy and helps boost our competitiveness in global markets. A comprehensive Gateway strategy is needed to drive growth for the next generation. The Continental Gateway is the key to keeping trade free-flowing, getting Ontario’s resources and manufactured products to market and bolstering our people’s prosperity.”

What’s New

Windsor-Detroit Corridor

On June 18, 2008, the Governments of Canada and Ontario announced the technically and environmentally preferred location of the new Canadian inspection plaza and the river crossing. The announcement is the result of years of technical studies and analysis by study teams on both sides of the border, and is part of an end-to-end transportation system that will link Highway 401 to the Interstate 75 in Michigan.

On May 1, 2008, The Detroit River International Crossing (DRIC) study team, led by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation in partnership with Transport Canada, announced the preferred access route on the Canadian side, The Windsor-Essex Parkway. Construction of The Windsor-Essex Parkway is expected to start as early as 2009 pending environmental assessment approval.

The Windsor-Detroit Trade Corridor is a key component of the Ontario- Quebec Continental Gateway. The new crossing will include state-of-the- art facilities to respond to twenty-first century needs and will positively impact the economies of Canada, Ontario, Windsor and Quebec.

Highway 30

The new section of Highway 30 will create a southern by-pass for the Greater Montréal Area. This infrastructure will help integrate highways 10, 15, 20, 30, 40 and 540 into a more efficient network to better connect the Greater Montréal Area, the Montérégie region, Ontario, the Maritimes and U.S. markets. On June 19, 2008, the Government of Quebec, together with the Government of Canada, announced that “Nouvelle Autoroute 30, S.E.N.C.” was the selected consortium to build the section between Châteauguay and Vaudreuil-Dorion through a public-private partnership (PPP) formula. The total cost is estimated at over $1 billion. According to the planned schedule, the new by-pass will open in 2012.

This 35-year partnership agreement is for the design, construction, financing, operation, maintenance and repair of this section of Highway 30. In addition, the private partner will be responsible for maintaining, operating and repairing approximately 32 additional kilometres of Highway 30, built under a traditional arrangement, for the same period.

Quebec Minister of Transport and Minister responsible for the Mauricie region Julie Boulet said, “This infrastructure will make a significant contribution to the Quebec economy and enable drivers to bypass the Island of Montréal easily and safely. The announcement of the selected consortium constitutes another step in the achievement of this important project for the Greater Montréal Area.”

Message from...

Madeleine Paquin

Madeleine Paquin, President and CEO – Logistec Corporation

I am very proud to participate in the Continental Gateway Strategic Leadership Committee as one of three strategic advisors who will work alongside the federal, Ontario and Quebec transportation Deputy Ministers on developing the Continental Gateway strategy.

The governments have committed to include the private sector in this initiative. They are looking for our input and perspectives on needed improvements to the transportation policy environment and infrastructure system in the Continental Gateway.

One method by which the private sector is consulted is through a Private Sector Advisory Committee, which will propose long-term recommendations for economic growth, sustainable development and increased international trade.

My role, as I see it, is to help coordinate this input and communicate private sector priority issues and potential solutions to the Strategic Leadership Committee and decision-makers.

To succeed in this very important and timely initiative, the private and public sectors must collaborate and communicate with one another. I believe this will require much effort, but we cannot underestimate the importance of a fluid and efficient transportation system to the health of our industries, the economy at large and the competitiveness of our country in the global economy.

Industry News

Road

David Bradley, CEO, Canadian Trucking Alliance President, Ontario Trucking Association

The Ontario-Quebec Continental Gateway and Trade Corridor is welcome news for the trucking industry that relies on the road network to get goods to market.

Ontario, Quebec and Canada’s economic prosperity relies on moving goods efficiently and reliably. Without dependable and cost effective transportation, our manufacturers, exporters and retailers cannot effectively compete in today’s global economy.

Modern just-in-time manufacturing processes, and modern “pull” logistics systems, demand a transportation system that is flexible, reliable and provides a high level of customer service. The trucking industry dominates goods movement because it can provide the level of customer service demanded by shippers operating in the information age.

To help our economy grow, the trucking industry requires updated infrastructure and regulations to meet service level requirements. To remain internationally competitive, we must constantly reinvest in our vital transportation infrastructure, and review and update regulatory policies.

The Continental Gateway initiative offers a unique opportunity to make the necessary investments and eliminate regulatory barriers.

Intermodal Rail/Marine

Denyse Nepveu, Director, Communications and Public Affairs, Canadian Pacific Railway

Canadian Pacific remains the leading rail services provider to the Port of Montréal, a major year-round east coast gateway that serves Canadian and U.S. Midwest markets.

Key to the Port of Montréal’s continued growth is the high level of integration between marine, rail and truck modes. This supply chain is one of the most competitive and efficient in North America. In 2007, container traffic between the Port of Montréal to and from various points along the Montréal-Chicago corridor enjoyed another significant increase.

As intermodalism continues to grow, so does the challenge to provide rapid, seamless and secure movement of goods. Government efforts to establish the Ontario-Quebec Continental Gateway and Trade Corridor as a strategic, world-class transportation system supporting international trade is a unique opportunity to further enhance our competitive advantage and, ultimately, our national prosperity.

Air

Purolator – helping customers succeed in a rapidly changing world

Bill Henderson, Sr. VP, Operations, Purolator

Purolator, Canada’s largest express carrier, transports more than 400,000 pounds of air freight and uses 1,400 tractor-trailers every day. Our customers rely on an efficient supply chain to get their packages from point A to point B.

We offer flexible, responsive solutions that help our customers succeed in our rapidly changing world. That’s why Purolator introduced Global Supply Chain Services – to help Canadian businesses connect with their operations and suppliers around the world while dramatically decreasing transit time and the cost of bringing imported goods to customers.

Global Supply Chain Services is integrated with Purolator’s distribution network, which includes a state-of-the-art hub in Montréal. This new facility is Purolator’s most efficient and technologically advanced hub. It represents a key milestone in our investment strategy of introducing new options, new solutions and new capabilities to our customers.

Collaboration between industry and government can improve port and air cargo opportunities – particularly where significant opportunities exist for Ontario and Quebec. Enhancing the supply chain is a win-win for all.

Working Together

Strategic Leadership Committee

Supported by private and public sector advisory committees, the Strategic Leadership Committee oversees the development of the Continental Gateway strategy. Its first two meetings were held on September 5, 2007 and April 9, 2008. It is co-chaired by the federal, Ontario and Quebec transportation Deputy Ministers, and includes strategic advisors from the private sector: Madeleine Paquin, President and CEO, Logistec Corporation, Claude Robert, CEO, Transport Robert, and Patrick R. Sinnott, Senior Vice-President Supply-Chain, Canadian Tire Corporation Limited. The three governments would like to thank Bill Osborne, former President and CEO of Ford Canada, whose term as strategic advisor was shortened, having recently been nominated to lead Ford Australia.

Private Sector Advisory Committee

The Private Sector Advisory Committee is the formal forum for private sector engagement. Twenty-four senior executives representing all modes of transportation and shippers, as well as other key stakeholders attended the first meeting held in Toronto on November 13, 2007.

Public Sector Advisory Committee

Public Sector Advisory Committee members are senior representatives from federal and provincial ministries with interests in the Continental Gateway. They first met in Québec City on January 31, 2008, and shared their input on the development of the Continental Gateway strategy.

We want to hear from you…

Are you a shipper or a transportation services provider doing business in Ontario or Quebec? We want to hear from you! Please submit a short description of the most pressing infrastructure, regulatory, policy and operational challenges for international trade that you face in moving goods in and out of the Continental Gateway.

Recent Events

The annual congress of the Quebec Association of Transportation and Roads (AQTR)

April 14-16, 2008