Strengthening Canada-U.S. Maritime Manufacturing and Trade With Mike Butler

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

• [2:38] Mike Butler explains Coastal Gateway Port’s ship repair, recycling, and shipbuilding priorities
• [4:32] Why Canada and the U.S. must rebuild North American shipbuilding capacity
• [7:40] How AUKUS, NATO, and allied partnerships can strengthen maritime defense manufacturing
• [11:23] Creating sustainable shipbuilding jobs and long-term funding models across borders
• [17:41] Mike discusses U.S. partnerships and the future of Canada-U.S. maritime collaboration

‍In this episode:

North America’s maritime future depends on more than ships — it depends on whether Canada and the U.S. can rebuild the industrial partnerships that power trade, defense, and manufacturing resilience. As global competition intensifies and supply chains become more vulnerable, how can both countries strengthen maritime manufacturing and trade together?

From Mike Butler’s perspective as a maritime infrastructure leader, the answer lies in treating shipbuilding, port development, and industrial capacity as a shared Canada-U.S. priority. He explains that long-term contracts, sustainable financing, and cross-border public-private partnerships are essential to rebuilding the facilities, workforce, and supply chains needed for stronger maritime trade. The main impact is a more resilient North American manufacturing base that can support defense readiness, create good-paying jobs, and reduce dependence on overseas shipbuilding. Butler also highlights the importance of allied cooperation through NATO and AUKUS-related opportunities, as well as the need to align government support with private-sector investment.

In this episode of America: Open for Business, host Cameron Heffernan sits down with Mike Butler, CEO of Coastal Gateway Port, to discuss strengthening Canada-U.S. maritime manufacturing and trade. They explore cross-border shipbuilding, port infrastructure, and allied industrial capacity. Mike also talks about financing, workforce development, and long-term maritime partnerships.

‍Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Cameron Heffernan on LinkedIn
• Beyond Borders Marketing 
• Coastal Gateway Port

Related episodes:

• “The Story of UGG: Birthing a Billion-Dollar Global Brand With Brian Smith” on America: Open for Business
• “Zero to $21 Million in 7 Years With Ben Tietje” on America: Open for Business

Quotable moments:

• “We have the industrial capacity. We just need the willingness and the ability to fund these vessels.”
• “North American strong and NATO strong is where we're trying to go with what we're doing.”
• “It's not only warfare, it's also domestic, it's trade as well.”
• “Giving up this industrial capacity to other countries is really crazy when you think about it.”
• “We're looking to do business in the United States, and we're looking forward to developing good partnerships.”

Action Steps:

1. Rebuild North American shipbuilding capacity: Investing in domestic and allied shipbuilding can help Canada and the U.S. strengthen trade, defense readiness, and industrial resilience.
2. Create long-term funding models: Sustainable contracts and predictable financing are essential for ports, shipyards, and private companies to expand maritime infrastructure.
3. Strengthen Canada-U.S. collaboration: Cross-border partnerships can support shipbuilding, repair, recycling, and advanced manufacturing while creating good-paying jobs.
4. Reduce dependence on overseas manufacturing: Building ships, materials, and infrastructure closer to home can help North America regain control over critical supply chains.
5. Invest in ports and workforce development: Modernized port facilities and skilled workers are key to supporting future maritime trade, defense, and industrial growth.