About the NAFTA Superhighway Coalition

On July 23, 1997, The NAFTA Superhighway Coalition was formed. It is a not-for-profit corporation. Its mission is to team Federal and Provincial authorities with private business to promote a National Transportation Policy that will include improvements to Highway 401 and associated corridors for facilitating the movement of people and goods to and from Canada, the U.S. and Mexico under the North American Free Trade Agreement. The Coalition is regional in perspective since Highway 401 and associated corridors stretch across numerous regions in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. Hence, its scope embraces many communities including Windsor, Sarnia, Chatham, London, Hamilton, Fort Erie, Barrie, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City.

The formation of the Coalition was prompted by the realization that border truck traffic has close to doubled since the North American Free Trade Agreement was signed in 1994, and projections are that traffic will double again between the years 2000 and 2010. It is the Coalition's position that the 401 is and will remain the primary route for facilitating North American trade, and therefore the Federal and Provincial governments, which were parties to the NAFTA agreement, are obligated to commit the necessary funding to improve and expand the infrastructure to safely and efficiently accommodate the intensification of traffic.

The Coalition is motivated by a compelling vision of trade and the movement of goods in the 21st century. This vision includes:

• International trade will be primarily North-South
• Canada and the United States will continue to be each other's number one trading partner.
• Trucks and highways will continue to become the backbone of the new economy. Currently, 76% of the movement of just-in-time goods is by trucks.
• The business world will continue to cluster around just-in-time arrangements.
• Warehousing will become obsolete as trucks become moving warehouses in a just-in-time world.
• Transportation corridors will have to become wider, safer, cleaner, and geared towards enabling the smooth, fast movement of trucks.
• Highway 401 is the spine, the common thread that connects the important centres of Canada's industrial heartland covered by the associated corridors which include the 400 Highway series in Ontario and their counterparts in Quebec.

Without a commensurate improvement to Highway 401 and associated corridors, Canadian exports and participation in NAFTA will falter - with proportionate impacts on the Canadian economy at large.

Improvements to the 401 as NAFTA's Superhighway will ensure that enormous economic opportunities will continue for the respective cities, towns and communities. Once the 401 is upgraded, these communities will be the preferred location for industry, investment and jobs.

WHAT WILL THE COALITION DO?

The Coalition is committed to making the 401 a state of the art, high-speed, safe, clean, automated superhighway that ensures the smooth, fast transportation of goods between Canada and the U.S. Simultaneously, the Coalition is also dedicated to improving the 400 series of highways in Ontario and their counterparts in Quebec to ensure the unobstructed flow of trade in the whole region comprising Ontario and Quebec.

To make this goal a reality, the NAFTA Superhighway Coalition will:

• Bring together - as stakeholders - the cities and communities along the 401 and associated corridors so that public opinion may be brought to bear on the respective decision-makers.
• Present a focused, persuasive, and compelling case to governments at all levels so that the proper legislation may be enacted and adequate funding allocated to the superhighway concept.
• Work closely with NAFTA Superhighway counterparts and allies in the U.S. and Mexico.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

• We must take responsibility for the future of our communities and the entire region. Nothing happens automatically. We need to influence the course of events.
• We are at a point where conditions are conducive to firmly establishing the 401 as the region's key NAFTA link. Already, considerable groundwork has been done in the U.S. by many groups including North America's Superhighway Coalition, Summit of the Mayors, the I-94 International Trade Alliance, Corridor 18 and others.
• To influence our own destiny, we must steer the NAFTA trade benefits to our communities. Ontario and Quebec can continue to be world leaders in manufacturing an export but only if the overall system of Canadian transportation is improved and modernized. The potential is staggering:
  • Canada is the #1 trading partner of the U.S. As a result of the NAFTA partnership, Mexico will surpass Japan as the #2 U.S. trading partner by the year 2000.
  • NAFTA trade among Canada, the U.S. and Mexico is expected to double to $646 billion by the year 2000, more than doubling again to 1.5 trillion by the year 2010.
  • The value of merchandise trade between Canada and the U.S. is more than $1 billion per day.
  • The U.S. buys 80% of Canada's exports.
  • Nearly 75% of trade between Canada and the U.S. is by truck.
  • Nearly 70% of Canada's industrial activity is in Ontario and Quebec.
  • The 401 and associated corridors serve the Ontario and Quebec automobile industry.
  • The 401 is the main trade route between Canada and the U.S. All regions in Ontario and Quebec will prosper if the 401 and associated corridors are improved and modernized.

WHO CAN BECOME A MEMBER OF THE COALITION?

Governmental organizations, including municipalities, Government of Ontario, Government of Quebec, and the Federal Government as well as the neighboring American States.

Private Sector corporations who participate in Canada-U.S trade activities.

Chambers of Commerce and Trade Associations.

Academic Institutions that are concerned about the economic prosperity of their area.

Individuals and/or organizations who are concerned about the future of their communities.

To become a member, please contact the Coalition Office at 3255 Wyandotte Street East, Windsor, Ontario N8Y 1G1 or call (519) 256-5530, fax (519) 253-9113, or Email to: kbrown@gwi.on.ca

WHATS NEXT?

Much will be accomplished if we can work together as partners to enable communities along the 401 and associated corridors to impress upon the Federal and Provincial governments the importance of designating Highway 401 and associated corridors as the NAFTA Superhighway. All communities under the 401 corridor umbrella must present a unified, powerful, and compelling message, stressing eloquently the needs and interest of all of us who depend on the 401 and associated corridors from Windsor to Quebec City.

The first step is to forge a united front among interested communities. The Coalition will work with the communities within the 401 and associated corridors (in Ontario and Quebec) to strike their own task forces bringing together all legal stakeholders.

Next, the Coalition will work with the local task forces such that a coalition embracing all of them will be formed. This coalition will present a strong case and speak with a strong voice to all levels of government.

Simultaneously, the respective communities will be asked to obtain supportive resolutions from their municipal councils, county and regional governments where appropriate.

The Coalition intends to become active and visible through informative and persuasive communities with Federal and Provincial authorities.

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