Ministers to develop Ontario-Quebec trade corridor

MONTREAL — The governments of Ontario and La belle Province have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the development of the Ontario-Quebec Continental Gateway and Trade Corridor.

The action plan, to be undertaken over the next two years, examine global markets and trade opportunities for Canada and “prepare for the future by developing a strategy that responds to new trade patterns and trends.”

Over the next 24 months, governments and private sector partners will share information and gather data to better understand international trade and transportation patterns. They will also explore ways to optimize the connections between air, marine, road and rail transportation to better meet current and future demands in transportation.

The outcome of this collaboration will guide future multimodal infrastructure and non-infrastructure strategies, projects and investments to further improve the Ontario-Quebec corridor.

The governance structure also establishes two advisory committees – the Private Sector Advisory Committee and the Public Sector Advisory Committee.

“Ontario and Quebec are vital contributors to the Canadian economy, representing about 60 percent of Canada’s exports and gross domestic product,” said Ontario Transportation Minister Donna Cansfield.