Good afternoon, Madam Chair. My name is Jean Aubry-Morin. I'm the vice-president of external relations at the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation. I would like to thank the committee for the privilege of discussing with you the value of the St. Lawrence Seaway, a key link in the North American supply chain and an important gateway for international trade.
We are a non‑profit corporation that was established in 1998 to operate the Canadian assets of the St. Lawrence Seaway. We work closely with the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, which is the U.S. partner in our binational network.
The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway system is a 3,700-kilometre marine highway that includes 15 locks and extends from the Atlantic Ocean to the head of the Great Lakes. We provide an essential link to a network of inland ports and international connections on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border. Our system supports 355,000 jobs and $30 billion in wages.
In 2022, 252 million tonnes of cargo was moved through the St. Lawrence Seaway waterway, generating $66 billion of economic activity. Marine shipping on the St. Lawrence Seaway is environmentally friendly and cost-effective. One Seawaymax vessel carries the equivalent of a thousand transport trucks or 300 railcars.
The Canadian government recently announced a plan for a green shipping corridor on the St. Lawrence and Great Lakes system. More shipping moving essential cargo through the system will reduce congestion on our highways and the busy rail corridor and will increase transportation sector efficiency and productivity.
Dry bulk and liquid bulk are the major cargo streams on the system—essential goods such as grain, iron ore, salt, petroleum and specialized chemicals. Project cargo, from wind turbines to manufacturing equipment, also moves on the seaway. We are well positioned to support the diversification of Canadian goods shipped by water. Since the conflict in Ukraine began, we have supported increased exports of potash and grain to meet international needs.
Thanks to strategic infrastructure investments, our legendary 99% availability rate means shippers don't have to worry about delays in getting their products to market. We have available capacity that can double the throughput of our existing system in response to future economic opportunities, including the emerging potential of Canada's critical minerals strategy and the ongoing decarbonization of the cargo supply chain.
In addition to the trade growth potential, we offer our system's low GHG emissions. The net-zero focus offers benefits to the entire transportation sector. Through innovation, the SLSMC has reduced its GHG emissions by 58% compared with the 2005 level, ahead of the mandated 2030 reduction target of the federal government.
The recent renewal of our long-term agreement with the Canadian government brings stability and predictability for the corporation and stakeholders. This 20-year agreement allows the SLSMC to continue its mission of maintaining a safe, secure, reliable, environmentally friendly and cost-effective system.
Ongoing investments in marine infrastructure through renewed federal infrastructure funds will strengthen the key supply chain and encourage international trade opportunities. It is critical that the Canadian government continues to recognize the essential value of the St. Lawrence Seaway corridor.
I look forward to answering any questions the committee may have. Thank you very much for the opportunity, Madam Chair.