Canada’s West Coast port leaders are calling on federal and provincial governments to consider creating a Canadian-owned commercial trading fleet paired with an electrified shipbuilding strategy, arguing ports must sit at the centre of any national response to rising global trade instability

The appeal is rooted in concerns over supply chain security, energy sovereignty and Canada’s heavy reliance on foreign-controlled shipping.

Advocates say ports are not just gateways for trade, but strategic assets capable of anchoring domestic shipbuilding, clean marine technology and energy infrastructure investment.