January 27, 2026 | Category: Member Forum

2026 WESTAC Compass Report: Trade Uncertainty and Long-Term Pressures Come into Focus 

We’re pleased to share that the 2026 WESTAC Compass Report is now available.

The annual WESTAC Compass Report is designed to provide a clear, evidence-based view of how the transportation sector is evolving, drawing on perspectives from senior decision-makers across business, labour, and government. This year’s findings reflect a period shaped by ongoing trade volatility, geopolitical uncertainty, economic pressures, and changing policy conditions. U.S. trade uncertainty and protectionism ranked as the top challenges for both Canada’s overall business climate and the transportation industry, rather than the acute disruptions that defined the past few years.

Results demonstrate the transportation system is operating more steadily than in recent years, but longer-term challenges around competitiveness, reliability, and resilience remain. The report highlights how transportation leaders are responding to sustained uncertainty by managing risk, adjusting expectations, and focusing on execution and system performance. It also examines confidence in doubling Canada’s non-U.S. exports by 2035, barriers to interprovincial trade, and funding priorities for the federal government’s Trade Diversification Infrastructure Fund.

We thank everyone who took the time to participate in the survey. Your insights and candid feedback provide valuable context for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and researchers seeking to understand current conditions and the factors that will influence the sector’s trajectory in the year ahead. We understand that responding to surveys takes time and we are grateful for your contribution.

Download the full 2026 Compass Report to examine the insights influencing the future of Western Canada’s supply chains. We encourage you to share it with colleagues.

About the Compass Report

The annual Compass Survey and subsequent Compass Report are unique WESTAC products that highlight the critical insights, expectations, and plans articulated by executives in business, labour, and government across Canada’s transportation industry. The survey is revised annually to reflect changing trends and events that impact the industry, which are showcased as spotlights.
 

About WESTAC 
WESTAC is a council of organizations in the transportation sector represented by senior decision-makers. WESTAC’s members span all aspects of freight transportation in Canada. They include carriers and logistics providers, ports and terminals, shippers, labour unions, and three levels of government. Members represent a significant share of the Western Canadian economy. We focus on critical issues affecting Western Canada’s freight transportation network to ensure that it is sustainable, safe, efficient, reliable, and competitive.