Minister of Transport announces the Green Shipping Corridor Program to help cut pollution in marine shipping

HALIFAX, NS, Dec. 1, 2023 /CNW/ – Canadians across the country rely on marine shipping to deliver products in an affordable, safe, and efficient way.  By making sure that marine shipping is done in sustainably, we not only help grow a strong economy and get people the goods they need, we help keep our environment healthy.

Today, the Minister of Transport, the Honorable Pablo Rodriguez, announced the creation of the Green Shipping Corridor Program, an investment of $165.4 million, and launched a call for proposals under this program. The program will establish green shipping corridors and help decarbonize the marine sector in major shipping areas along the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence Seaway, and Canada’s east and west coasts.

In addition, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, the Honorable Jonathan Wilkinson, was at the Port of Vancouver today to echo the announcement.

The program will be delivered through the following two streams of funding, both of which will contribute to reducing Canada’s pollution in the marine sector and to the development of green shipping corridors that ensure shipping is clean and reliable:

The Clean Ports stream, which will provide funding to support the adoption of clean technology and infrastructure at ports and terminals; andThe Clean Vessel Demonstration stream, which will provide funding to study, test, and pilot clean fuel propulsion systems for shipping vessels.

Applications for funding under the two streams will be accepted starting today through Transport Canada website. This program will support the delivery of innovative projects in the marine sector to help keep our economy growing strong, ensure goods get to Canadians, and keep our air clean.

“With the new Green Shipping Corridor Program, Canada is taking another step towards meeting its commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050. We can work together to establish green shipping corridors to decarbonize the marine sector along the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence Seaway, as well as Canada’s east and west coasts.”

The Honourable Pablo Rodriguez
Minister of Transport 

“The Government of Canada is making smart investments to ensure that our critically important supply chains – the economic links that ensure affordable goods and products are delivered to market and to Canadians – are as sustainable and competitive as possible. Today’s investment is key to accelerating the uptake of clean technologies, fuels and or energy sources, here in British Columbia and across the country.”

The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources 

In November 2021, during the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), Canada signed on to the Clydebank Declaration to support the establishment of zero-emission maritime routes between two or more ports, known as green shipping corridors.Canadian stakeholders have been leaders on the early development of green shipping corridors by signing agreements to pursue green shipping corridors on routes including Montreal – Anvers, Halifax – Hamburg, and Pacific Northwest – Alaska. Canada is also working with several partners to pursue additional green shipping corridors.The Green Shipping Corridor Program is a key pillar of the Government of Canada’s activities and investments to support transportation decarbonization and to accelerate the transition to zero and near-zero greenhouse gas emission fuels and technologies in the marine sector.  Since 2016, the Government of Canada has dedicated $3.5 billion to the Oceans Protection Plan, making it the largest investment Canada has ever made to protect its coasts and waterways.In addition, the Government of Canada continues to invest in Canada’s transportation infrastructure to make the country’s supply chain stronger, to boost economic growth, and to create more opportunities for our businesses to grow internationally.

Green Shipping Corridor Program Clean Ports Stream – Applicant’s GuideGreen Shipping Corridor Program Clean Vessel Demonstration stream – Grant Applicant’s GuideGreen Shipping Corridor Program Clean Vessel Demonstration Stream – Contribution Applicant’s GuideCanadian Green Shipping Corridors FrameworkMinister of Transport announces Canadian Green Shipping Corridors Framework and Canada joining the Zero-Emission Shipping MissionJoint Statement: Canada and the United States announce the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System Green Shipping Corridor Network InitiativeNational Supply Chain OfficeCanada’s Oceans Protection PlanCanadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act2030 Emissions Reduction Plan2023 IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from ShipsDeclaration on Zero Emission Shipping by 2050Green Shipping Challenge

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SOURCE Transport Canada – Ottawa