Federal government commits $22M to Welland Canal wharf reconstruction
The federal government has announced it will contribute about half of the cost to rebuild and rehabilitate three wharves located at the Welland Canal in Port Colborne.
The $45.3-million project will support the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation in its aim to revive the wharves, which are currently out-of-service, to support operations and increase capacity of the trade corridor.
“We look forward to working with all partners to bring these wharves back into service with the goal of adding more fluidity to Canada’s supply chain and strengthening our connection to global markets,” said St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation President and CEO Terence Bowles. “Once the work is completed, capacity to handle freight will increase by a million tonnes per year and new marine shipping opportunities will be created for Canadian exporters, along with a dock for cruise ships and the possibility of reduced greenhouse gas emissions.”
The federal government has committed to spend up to $22.7 million on the work through its National Trade Corridors Fund. It says the funding will deliver important benefits for the region, such as relieving supply chain congestion and facilitating the movement of goods at the port.
The fund is a competitive, merit-based program designed to help infrastructure owners and users invest in the transportation assets that support economic activity in Canada. A total of $4.7 billion over 11 years has been allocated to the program.