Leaders from Canada’s Coastal Gateway Port Ltd. are welcoming recent remarks from U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra, who urged North American and Pacific allies to expand cooperation under the AUKUS technology and security framework.

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Michael Butler, Chief Executive Officer, and Robert Bohn, President of Coastal Gateway Port Ltd., issued a joint statement on Sunday aligning their company’s vision with Ambassador Hoekstra’s call for deeper engagement among allied nations. Their remarks follow the Ambassador’s comments highlighting the need for Canada and its partners to take a stronger role in industrial innovation, maritime technology, and Indo-Pacific development.

“On behalf of Canadians, I want to thank the President of the United States and Ambassador Hoekstra for their leadership in expanding cooperation among allied nations,” said Michael Butler. “We would be honoured to host American representatives at our Coastal Gateway Port site in Union Bay to discuss next steps. Strengthening these relationships supports both regional security and long-term prosperity.”

Robert Bohn, President of Coastal Gateway, emphasized that the Pacific and North American regions must work together to create a foundation for responsible innovation and sustainable growth.

“Working together across allied nations ensures that technological progress and industrial cooperation benefit all communities involved,” Bohn said. “Partnerships like these create opportunities for sustainable development and greater regional stability.”

Ambassador Hoekstra has underscored that AUKUS collaboration should reach beyond traditional defence programs to include renewable energy, critical infrastructure, and digital transformation. Positioning Canada’s West Coast as a natural staging ground for joint technology and shipbuilding initiatives across the Indo-Pacific.

“Canada and our partners share a vision of cooperation grounded in trust, transparency, and shared access to technology,” Butler and Bohn said in their joint statement. “Through collaboration, we can help shape a resilient and secure Indo-Pacific future.”

Their invitation for U.S. officials to visit the Union Bay facility marks a concrete step toward translating diplomatic goals into practical industrial action — signaling Canada’s readiness to contribute meaningfully to the evolving AUKUS framework.

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