Maritime Affairs

Check out pictures from the Annual 2012 Maritime Affairs Luncheon!

Welcome to the Navy League Of Canada's Maritime Affairs Program.  Since 1895, The Navy League of Canada has been concerned with the prosperity of Canada’s agricultural, industrial, and business sectors, in generating economic expansion as facilitated by good marine transportation, maritime safety and protection, and trade facilities, as well as contributing to the assurance that we will always have a relevant and sustainable Navy – ready and able.

Canada is a Maritime Nation. All Canadians, wherever they live, are dependant on water for transportation, commerce, food, minerals, power, employment, recreation and our quality of life. One third of our country's gross domestic product is transported by water and 97% of our exports and imports – other than those shipped to/from the United States - are transported by ships. As such, the health of our economy is dependant upon water transportation. And, we are now realizing just how important water is to our economy - as a facility and as a resource/commodity – and that it will likely be a major factor in future relations with other countries, particularly the United States.  We have also come to recognize the importance and necessity of improving maritime facilities and maritime security in all of our territorial waters including the Atlantic, Arctic, and Pacific Oceans, the Great Lakes, and in the St. Lawrence River and similar major waterways.

The Navy League of Canada maintains an abiding interest in the offshore industries, the condition of the marine environment, shipbuilding, transportation by water, use of the maritime regions for pleasure and tourism, a strong and ready Coast Guard, and a combat-capable Navy to protect and watch over our interests. In April 2003, The Navy League of Canada launched a leadmark paper entitled "Canada, An Incomplete Maritime Nation" that critically examined four key aspects of Canada's maritime dimension: National Security; Oceans Management; the Shipping Industry; and Industrial Development.  This paper is still relevant today and it will be periodically updated to reflect the on-going changes -nationally and internationally - that continue to impact the maritime environment. Specific concerns that affect the procurement of ships for our Navy and Coast Guard have been highlighted in our 2008 paper, “Military/Naval Procurement In Canada – A Flawed Process”, and we are maintaining our advocacy program in support of plans for a Canadian federal fleet shipbuilding program.

Our Maritime Affairs website offers information on Canada's Navy, Coast Guard, marine industries, current events, educational resources and career opportunities, and it highlights the advantages of membership in the Maritime Affairs Alliance. We trust that you will find it both interesting and informative, and we would be pleased to hear from you with comments and suggestions.