The Port of Montreal Authority’s plan to build a new container terminal near Contrecoeur has been approved by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Canada after a five-year consultation period.
In a statement, the Port Authority welcomed the decision and said it will now look to obtain all the necessary permits and ensure the new terminal meets the conditions set by the Ministry.
Martin Imbleau, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Montreal Port Authority, said, “This favourable decision opens the way to building a new container terminal, a key public utility for the development of Quebec and Canada.
“Local businesses will be able to make the most of a future infrastructure with great economic benefits, with a minimal impact on human, aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.”
Located in an industrial zone, the Contreoeur land reserve was acquired over 30 years ago by the Port Authority and has been the focus of collaborative planning to support the development of the supply chain in Quebec and Eastern Canada.
By 2024, with the support of Canada Infrastructure Bank and private partners, the Port of Montreal intends to develop a new state-of-the-art container terminal to handle 1.15 million TEU.
Located in the main pool of consumers and importers in Quebec and Eastern Canada, close to major rail and road routes, the Port of Montreal’s Contreoeur expansion will consolidate local strengths to effectively meet future needs.
This project will strengthen the Port’s world-class logistics hub in the heart of the St. Lawrence Valley, it said.
