Canada pledges funding for port's Contrecoeur container terminal project

The Canadian government will invest up to CA$150 million under the National Trade Corridors Fund to build a new container terminal for the Montreal Port Authority in Contrecoeur, Quebec, Minister of Transport Pablo Rodriguez announced yesterday.

The new terminal would increase the Port of Montreal's container capacity to meet the growing need for cargo transportation and help maintain the fluidity of the port's operations, government officials said in a press release.

Construction of the new terminal will include:
• a 675 meter-long dock, including the approach area for ships;
• a rail network connecting to existing CN tracks, including a railway transfer point and freight transfer hub;
• road access to connect the terminal to the public network;
• a container handling yard; and
• operations and administrative buildings.

Once completed, the new terminal is expected to increase the annual value of imports and exports handled at the port, generating up to CA$140 million per year across the country. In addition, the project will increase the port's total capacity by 55%, government officials said.

"By supporting the port in its expansion project in Contrecoeur, we continue our efforts to strengthen Canada's supply chain. This is important so that we never again have to go through product shortages like we experienced during the pandemic, or the significant price increases that came along with them," said Rodriguez.