Niagara Ports strategy aims to bring the world to Welland, Port Colborne and Thorold
September 14, 2020
Niagara Ports strategy aims to bring the world to Welland, Port Colborne and Thorold
Marsgracht, a general cargo ship of Netherlands-based Spliethoff shipping, heads downbound on the Welland Canal at Port Colborne. Niagara Centre MP Vance Badawey said three multimodal industrial hubs are being considered along the canal that would benefit area communities. DAVE JOHNSON / TORSTAR
Three multimodal industrial hubs along the Welland Canal could have national and international business implications and opportunities for Welland, says Mayor Frank Campion.
Last week, Niagara Centre MP Vance Badawey said he worked with mayors of Port Colborne, Welland and Thorold and the Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority to advance the development of the hubs along the 43-kilometre-long, eight-lock canal.
Badawey is the chair of the federal standing committee on transport, infrastructure and communities.
In a release, he said the initiative is a positive and practical solution to a long-held belief that many of the region’s marine assets are underutilized, and could be leveraged for positive economic impact, job creation and trade facilitation.
“The idea of establishing Niagara as an active trade corridor is a notion that I took to Ottawa with me when I was first elected in 2015. Now, after years of working together with all our partners, the transport committee’s 2019 study on the subject seems to be gaining traction.”
He said Niagara is a provincially-designated Gateway Economic Zone and Centre and federally designated Foreign Trade Zone. Three multimodal hubs under a Niagara Ports banner allows communities to take full economic advantage of assets in place.
Badawey is working with the Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority and local stakeholders in making strategic investments, purchasing hub lands, and entering into management agreements so that properties may be developed under a ports banner.
Campion said he’s been working on the initiative for the past five years and was pleased to be collaborating with partner municipalities, Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority and the federal government on the ports project.
“Through this partnership, we become an integral part of the Canadian Trade Corridor with national and international business implications and opportunities for Welland and Niagara,” he said.
Port Colborne Mayor Bill Steele said it was an exciting announcement that has long been in the making.
“The Port Colborne community is thrilled to see this collaborative initiative expand our local economy. By leveraging our existing assets and strengths and building on what we already do well in the community, this development prompts job creation which is a positive for both Port Colborne and the entire region,” said Steele in the release.
Thorold Mayor Terry Ugulini said the initiative will harness and build upon the solid foundation of industrial and marine assets in his city.
“This partnership will allow us to leverage these key assets to create jobs, spark new and innovative economic development, that reinforces partnerships and networks that will advance our strategic objectives both now and into the future,” said Ugulini.
Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority president and chief executive officer Ian Hamilton said the authority is committed to building prosperous working waterfronts in Ontario communities.
He said Niagara Ports would build on the authority’s network of ports in the Golden Horseshoe.
“Niagara is extraordinarily well-positioned for growth, and by contributing our expertise and management capacity, we’re ready to help put Niagara’s potential to work for the benefit of port communities, and the regional economy,” Hamilton said in the release.
