JOHNSTOWN, ONTARIO, CANADA — Canada is investing in the Port of Johnstown to increase efficiency in its transportation infrastructure.

To improve productivity at the port, which is located on the west bank of the St. Lawrence Seaway, nine grain loading spouts will be replaced with four more efficient and modern spouts so that larger vessels can be loaded more quickly. A new grain bin will be added to increase the port’s storage capacity. This renewal and expansion work will work to help the Port of Johnstown grow as a strategically located major export gateway for Eastern Canada’s agricultural producers.

“Our government is investing in Canada’s economy by making improvements to our trade and transportation corridors,” said Marc Garneau, minister of Transport. “We are supporting projects to efficiently move goods to market and people to their destinations, stimulate economic growth, create quality middle-class jobs, and ensure that Canada’s transportation networks remain competitive and efficient.”

The Port of Johnstown provides international market access for agriculture producers in Ontario and Quebec. According to Transport Canada, new trade agreements and growing international demand for Canadian grain products such as wheat, corn and soybeans have fueled a 150% rise in exports at the Port of Johnstown since 2011. The port handled a record high of C$115 million in grain products in the 2018 crop year.

Transport Canada noted the country’s government is supporting infrastructure projects that contribute most to Canada’s success in international trade. Trade diversification is a key component of the National Trade Corridors Fund, through projects that:  

  • improve the fluidity and performance of the transportation system to increase the value and volume of goods exported from Canada to overseas markets; and
  • generate new overseas trade as a result of the investment.

“I know this was an important project for Eastern Ontario and I am pleased that it is going ahead,” said Francis Drouin, member of Parliament for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell.  “The Port of Johnstown is a strategic economic gateway and ensuring that we address transportation bottlenecks and develop strategies to minimize congestion is vital to fostering long-term prosperity in our community.”