Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, was joined by Sylvie Vachon, President and CEO of Montreal Port Authority, and Denis Coderre, Mayor of Montreal, to announce a major investment in key enhancements to be made at the port.
The main component of the project ($83 million) involves expanding container capacity in the Viau sector by 450,000 TEUs, increasing total handling capacity in the Viau sector to 600,000 TEUs and increasing the Port’s overall handling capacity to 2.1 million TEUs. The second and third project components are deepening vessel berths ($26 million), and improving truck traffic flow in and around the port ($23 million). This work is expected to significantly increase the Port’s handling capacity, facilitate the accommodation of larger vessels, and greatly improve traffic flow for the more than 2,500 trucks that pass through the port daily.
Montreal Port Authority will receive up to $43.7 million through the National Infrastructure Component of the New Building Canada Fund for these key upgrades, which is designed to support projects of national significance that have a strong impact on Canada’s economic well-being, such as transportation and trade corridors. The Port Authority will be responsible for the remaining cost of the project ($88.3 million).
Sylvie Vachon commented that “This substantial financial contribution from the federal government’s New Building Canada Fund will provide significant help in positioning the Port of Montreal to fully profit from growth opportunities in marine transportation in the coming years, particularly in the context of the implementation of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). Optimizing our container-handling capacity and improving our marine and road access will hugely benefit our clients and partners here and elsewhere, not to mention the Canadian economy.”