The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers wants funding to continue a study of expanding the St. Lawrence Seaway for bigger ships. Now amidst widespread speculation, a Canadian environmental group doubts Canada will support it. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s David Sommerstein reports:
Transcript
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers wants funding to continue a study of expanding the St.
Lawrence Seaway for bigger ships. Now amidst widespread speculation, a Canadian
environmental group doubts Canada will support it. The Great Lakes Radio Consoritum’s David
Sommerstein reports:
Canada’s role is critical to the study moving forward. In many places, the Seaway channel is in
Canadian waters and Canada owns most of the Seaway’s locks. Mary Muter is with the Georgian
Bay Association, an Ontario-based environmental group. She says Canada’s Transport Minister
David Collinette will not help pay for the study unless it beefs up its environmental approach.
“We have heard from Minister Collinette that he is only interested in funding a joint study with
the U.S. transport department that will look at the environmental impacts and that the full
scenario is looked at.”
Others say Canada will sign on. Keith Robson of the Hamilton Port Authority believes Transport
Minister Collinette is dedicated to expansion.
“My impression is that Collinette understands very much the benefits of marine transportation.”
Collinette himself has declined to comment. Transport Canada says talks with the U.S. are
ongoing.
For the Great Lakes Radio Consortium, I’m David Sommerstein.