How did the Welland Canal help trade in Ontario?

The Welland Canal is vital to trade in Ontario because it provides a navigable link between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, bypassing the impassable Niagara Falls and the rapids of the Niagara River.12

By forming a critical segment of the St. Lawrence Seaway, the canal facilitates the movement of bulk commodities that are essential to the regional economy. Specifically, it allows for the transport of coal from U.S. mines to Canadian steel mills and power plants located in Ontario.134

The canal’s system of eight locks enables large vessels, known as lakers, to overcome the 100-metre elevation difference between the two lakes. This connectivity supports two-way trade, allowing ships to move raw materials and goods efficiently throughout the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence system, which serves as one of the world's most heavily used international trade routes.1342