Good morning, Madam Chair and members of the committee. Thank you for the opportunity to be here today.
My name is Jim Weakley, and I serve as president of the Lake Carriers' Association, based in Cleveland, Ohio. On behalf of my members, I would like to congratulate you on launching this important dialogue. A focused and thoughtful discussion on the Canadian transportation and logistics supply chain is well warranted. Given the highly integrated nature of the North American trade and logistics network, this dialogue must include a focus on cross-border issues, maritime trade, and opportunities shared between your great country and mine.
To illustrate just how interconnected we are, when a laker transits the Detroit-St. Clair River system, it crosses the border 17 times. If it were a separate country, the natural trade corridor formed by the eight Great Lakes' states and two Canadian provinces would have the third-largest economy in the world. For these reasons, I have regular and ongoing interaction with many Government of Canada representatives through the course of my work.
LCA was founded in 1880 and is one of the oldest trade associations in the United States. We represent operators of the U.S. flag vessels operating on the Great Lakes. Our members employ more than 1,600 people, and our cargo generates over 116,000 jobs, $20 billion in economic activity, and $3.7 billion in taxes—all in U.S. dollars. The bi-national Great Lakes navigation system creates 237,000 jobs, $35 billion in economic activity, and $6.6 billion in taxes. It also saves the North American consumer more than $3.6 billion in transportation costs.
Our ongoing contributions to both Americans and Canadians are vast. We are proponents of more trade and commerce between Canada and the United States. We strongly recommend that both national governments take a holistic approach to the binational Great Lakes trade corridor when making investments, setting policy and making regulatory decisions. The words “harmonization” and “interoperability” are frequently used when discussing Canada-U.S. trade. The only way to fully enable the incredible economic potential of trade and commerce between our two nations, particularly here on the Great Lakes, is to ensure that decisions are made with these two key elements in mind.
A new transportation strategy must take into account the critical capability needs, such as enhanced and more reliable icebreaking services. We should also electronically integrate the U.S. Coast Guard and Canadian Coast Guard command centres on the Great Lakes, as they do on the west coast. In terms of regulation, taking a binational approach to air emissions, ballast water, and the protection of species at risk through the lens of cross-border integration and harmonization adds to our ability to generate economic development and good-paying jobs on both sides of the border.
I commend you on undertaking this important study. Transportation is the lubricant that keeps our economies moving. The binational Great Lakes trade corridor continues to contribute much to both our nations.
I look forward to your questions and to ongoing engagement with Canadian parliamentarians and other government officials.
Thank you.