Transport Canada Launches ‘Advancing Supply Chain Digitalization’ Call for Proposals

“Our work to make our supply chain even stronger continues,” Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra said via Twitter on Feb. 13. “Today, we are launching a new call for proposals that will support projects that will strengthen the digitization of our infrastructure. Applicants have until April 11 to submit their proposal.”

Transport Canada is committing up to C$50 million for projects that improve asset and operations management, coordination, planning, and optimization of supply chains to help alleviate bottlenecks and boost network fluidity and resilience, the department reported Feb. 13.

Not-for-profit and for-profit private-sector organizations, Canada Port Authorities, and National Airport Systems airport authorities are invited to apply under Transport Canada’s new “Advancing Supply Chain Digitalization” call for proposals. Proposals targeting projects “that will strengthen Canada’s digital infrastructure and make Canada’s transportation supply chains more efficient and reliable” are due April 11.

According to Transport Canada, funding will be provided in support of acquisition, installation and deployment of technologies (such as Intelligent Transportation Systems), equipment, processes, data, data-sharing platforms, software, and systems as well as related evaluation, monitoring and training that is “consistent with generally accepted industry standards for the management of freight traffic and transportation related to the movement of goods and people.”

Preference may be given to projects that can get under way within one year, reported Transport Canada, which noted that projects must be completed no later than Dec. 31, 2025.

The call is part of the National Trade Corridors Fund, a competitive, merit-based program “designed to help infrastructure owners and users invest in the transportation assets that support economic activity in Canada,” Transport Canada reported. It is also one of many actions being undertaken under the broader C$136 million Advancing Industry-Driven Digitalization of Canada’s Supply Chain initiative, which the department announced in October 2022.

“The digitization of our supply chain infrastructure is the way of the future,” Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra said. “That’s why today’s [Feb. 13] announcement is important because the projects that will be funded by this call for proposals will make a real difference in improving our supply chains while creating good middle-class jobs and making lives more affordable to Canadians.”