Saint Lawrence Seaway Corporation: Significantly different toll policies for shipping using this shared waterway is an on-going source of concern. X-20, in cooperation with the SLSDC, monitors shipping on the Seaway and the effect of Canadian toll policies on U.S. Great Lakes interests, plus reform options and proposals.

Activity: X-20 assists the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC) in negotiations with Canada on Seaway operational issues

Background: Under a 1959 U.S.-Canada Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), the two countries jointly operate the St. Lawrence Seaway. The U.S. operates two locks and its operations are managed by the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC), a DOT agency. Until 1998, Canada operated its thirteen locks through the St. Lawrence Seaway Authority (SLSA), a crown corporation. Under the 1998 Canada Marine Act, the SLSA was replaced by a private, not-for-profit entity, the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC), which operates and maintains the Canadian Seaway infrastructure. The Canadian Government still retains ownership of the infrastructure and other assets.

The SLSDC Administrator and SLSMC President lead the Waterway Strategic Issues Forum, a group of U.S. and Canadian government and industry stakeholders, to develop a strategic vision of the waterway. At an operational level, the two Seaway entities continue to communicate closely. Unlike its predecessor, the SLSMC lacks ultimate authority to issue rules and regulations affecting the operation and navigation of vessels in the Seaway. That authority now resides with Transport Canada. All Seaway rules and regulations must be issued jointly with the SLSDC.

One objective of the Canada Marine Act is to encourage new cooperative arrangements with the United States for the management of the transportation facilities and services in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence region. This language is referred to as a general endorsement of pursuing a discussion of a binational agency. However, the SLSMC is focusing on restructuring its own organization while seeking operational areas where it and the SLSDC can achieve greater coordination of activities.

Revised on Friday, June 20, 2003
Content is provided by Allen Wiener
(202) 366-9530