Ontario Premier Doug Ford was in St. Catharines on Wednesday to announce a $90-million investment in the province’s shipbuilding industry.
This includes $11 million into Ontario Shipyards, with operations across the Great Lakes, and roughly $8 million into Allied Marine and Industrial in Port Colborne.
Funding was also announced for shipbuilding companies in Kingston and Perry Sound, and $64 million was earmarked for future shipbuilding funding.
“As Canada and our allies work together, making record investments in defence and global security, Ontario is ready to build the ships that will protect our country and keep our economy moving,” said Ford. “Today’s investment will increase the resilience of Ontario’s marine industry, support thousands of good-paying jobs across Ontario and give businesses more ways to get their products to market.”
Niagara West MPP Sam Oosterhoff spoke specifically about how the investments will impact Niagara.
“This is great news for Niagara’s Welland Canal Corridor and our critical marine sector across the region,” said Oosterhoff. “This investment will directly support workers and good-paying jobs at both the Port Weller Dry Docks of Ontario Shipyards in St. Catharines and Allied Marine and Industrial in Port Colborne.”
The Ontario Shipbuilding Grant Program is designed to help Ontario-based shipbuilders increase Canada’s capacity under the National Shipbuilding Strategy. The Strategy is a project to renew the country’s feet of combat and non-combat vessels, including for the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Coast Guard, and Transport Canada.
Leaders at both Ontario Shipyards and Allied Marine and Industrial spoke about how the province’s investments will help their organizations specifically.
“The Ontario Shipbuilding Grant Program is a transformational investment,” said President and Chief Executive Officer of Ontario Shipyards Shaun Padulo. “It will level the playing field so Ontario can compete for major opportunities under Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy.”
“This investment will allow us to expand our commercial ship repair capabilities, modernize our operations and invest in the skilled workforce needed to support Ontario’s marine sector,” said Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Allied Marine and Industrial Bob Mitchell. “This investment will help unlock new opportunities for innovative growth, strengthening marine and industrial excellence in Ontario.”
The Ontario Shipbuilding Grant Program was first launched in 2025.
Jay Goldberg is the Canadian Affairs Manager at the Consumer Choice Center. He previously served as the Ontario Director at the Canadian Taxpayers Federation and a policy fellow at the Munk School of Public Policy and Global Affairs. Jay holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Toronto.
