While rail lines and highways proliferate across most of Canada and the U.S., much freight moves by water within the North American continent. Such maritime operations prevail on the Great Lakes, along the St. Lawrence Seaway and along the Mississippi River. New developments in hydroelectric power, barge-train technology, articulated ship technology and the mining industries could create a basis to develop a future barge canal that would connect parts of Western Canada to Hudson Bay and to the Beaufort Sea.