Canada’s Prime Minister Carney recently announced a commitment to trade diversification through port infrastructure. The announcement specifically pointed to the redevelopment of the Port of Churchill, Manitoba, and the potential approval of the long-awaited Contrecoeur terminal at the Port of Montreal.

We recently spoke with Andrew Black, Director of Supply Chain Solutions at GSTS, to gain insight into how he views this change’s impact on Canadian ports and exports abroad.

How does this investment impact Canada?

This announcement is a big win for Canada because it helps diversify trade routes and reduce overreliance on a single market. Currently, a significant portion of our trade flows south to the United States, which is understandable given its proximity and the size of that market.

By investing in infrastructure such as the Contrecoeur terminal and the Churchill port, we’re creating new pathways that enable more East–West trade and stronger links across the Atlantic. That opens the door to broader opportunities and makes our economy more resilient.

On top of that, I think there’s a long-term national benefit. By increasing marine activity in places like Churchill — where there’s currently limited commercial vessel traffic — we can open up new regions of the country to trade.

That doesn’t just strengthen our supply chains; it spreads opportunity more evenly and could create lasting economic benefits for communities that haven’t historically been at the center of Canada’s trade network.

What is the potential impact on Canadian trade partners?

An investment in ports also positions Canada to play a larger role on the global stage.

Strengthening ports enables us to move goods more efficiently and reliably, which is attractive to international partners. This aligns with goals of building stronger connections with Europe and other democratic nations, not just for economic reasons, but also for shared priorities such as decarbonization and energy transition.

Europe is already a significant buyer of Canadian goods, and in some respects, it is even more important than the U.S. in certain markets. This announcement tells our European partners that we view this relationship as strategically important and that we wish to invest in strengthening it. It’s really about saying: we’re here, we’re aligned with you, and we’re ready to work together.

To me, it signals that Canada is serious about supporting global trade objectives while carving out a stronger, more independent position.

What do you hope this investment will cover?

Over the past several years, we’ve seen how volatine global supply chains can be — whether it was the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, blockages in the Suez Canal or conflict in the Strait of Hormuz, or, of course, the wide-ranging disruptions from COVID-19.

Each of these events impacted commercial activity in Canadian waters, and we’ve spent time with a government client helping them analyze exactly what those impacts looked like.

My hope is that the funding doesn’t just go into concrete and steel, but also into the intelligence and analytics needed to guide those decisions. Having the right numbers, accurate forecasts, and a clear understanding of risks will ensure that these new projects aren’t only large but also smart, sustainable, and resilient over the long term. These are the kinds of questions we can answer with solid analytics capabilities.

How should ports seize on this opportunity?

The government is making meaningful commitments to trade diversification and infrastructure, and that creates a moment where ports can position themselves for long-term growth. If I were running a port today, I would see this as my chance to really make the kind of investments that will shape Canadian transoceanic trade for decades to come.

To do that effectively, ports need to come forward with the right analytics and information. It’s not enough to simply say, “we need more capacity.” Ports should be able to demonstrate the scale of today’s opportunities and paint a clear picture of what those opportunities could look like in the future, including the impact on other ports. That means gathering data, modelling scenarios, and building a strong case for why this investment will deliver tangible results.

The ports that will benefit the most from this funding are those that can clearly and convincingly tell their story. They’ll show how infrastructure upgrades and operational improvements align with national goals, not just for trade but also for sustainability and efficiency.

This is really about seizing the moment — using the investment not just to build bigger facilities, but to build smarter, future-ready ports.

How can OCIANA be part of the solution?

If we’re serious about growing trade — whether that’s with Europe, Asia, or other partners — ports need to either expand their infrastructure or find smarter ways to optimize what they already have.

That’s where OCIANA comes in. We provide the data, analytics, and optimization tools that can make operations smoother and more predictable without requiring massive capital investment right away.

Port arrivals

One of the areas where we add a lot of value is in port arrivals. We have machine learning–based ETA prediction tools that dynamically update as vessels approach port. That’s paired with intelligent geofences that trigger alerts, so ports know exactly when to line up marine and landside resources. Information from vessels or agents is often unreliable, and having accurate arrival insights can make a huge difference in reducing congestion and delays.

Port analytics

We also bring strong capabilities in port analytics. For example, we’ve worked with the Port of Vancouver to build forecasting tools for anchorage demand, broken down by commodity and terminal. That kind of insight helps port authorities make forward-looking decisions that directly improve traffic management. By configuring analytics tailored to the unique needs of each port, we can ensure they’re set up to grow sustainably.

Environmental performance

Another critical area where OCIANA supports ports is environmental performance. We’ve built tools that track emissions like CO₂, methane, sulphur oxides, and more, giving ports real-time visibility into their environmental impact.

With features like digitized trade routes, we track and benchmark green shipping corridors, showing tangible progress toward decarbonization goals. That transparency isn’t just valuable for regulators — it helps ports align with their stakeholders and international trading partners who prioritize sustainability and decarbonization.

OCIANA provides ports with the intelligence and insights they need to make better decisions, optimize operations, and build for the future. Whether it’s managing arrivals, understanding congestion, or reducing emissions, we give them the foundation to succeed in a very competitive and rapidly changing global trade environment.

Contact us to learn more about OCIANA’s capabilities for port authorities.