All about the project
Worldwide, approximately 80% of goods travel by sea at some point in their journey from producer to consumer. Maritime transport is at the heart of international trade. Whether it is to receive essential commodities, to help local entrepreneurs export their products to new markets or to ensure that you can buy the bike of your dreams at your local store, ports are vital to the prosperity of countries across the globe—and Canada is no exception.
The Port of Montreal is constantly working to improve the flow, resilience, reliability and sustainability of supply chains. The expansion project at Contrecœur is part of that effort.
“Our expansion in Contrecœur, with a new container terminal, is required more than ever.”
— Julie Gascon, President and CEO of the MPA
Why undetake this project?
The container market at the Port of Montreal has been growing for over 50 years and the MPA’s terminals on the Montreal Island will soon reach full capacity. That is why we have been planning a new container terminal on our land in Contrecœur to support the growth of the container market in Quebec and Eastern Canada.
The flow of goods will be improved through the seamless integration of the terminal with road and rail networks at the new Contrecœur site. Having sites on both the Island of Montreal and the South Shore will enable the Port of Montreal to be more agile and make supply chains more efficient.
What is the expansion project?
When fully up and running, the Contrecœur terminal will be able to handle 1.15 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) per year, representing an additional annual capacity equal to 60% of the containers currently handled in Montreal.
This new terminal will include:
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- Two berths and a container handling area
- An intermodal marshalling yard connected to the main rail network
- A truck gate connected to the road network
- Secondary facilities for port activities
Developed on land acquired since the late 80s, the new terminal site is strategically located for the operation of a modern container terminal and the growth of our activities. Its surroundings are mainly industrial.
Having undergone a rigorous environmental assessment process, which set out hundreds of conditions and commitments that the MPA must adhere to, the project has been conceived with the input of diverse stakeholders, including First Nations, and a clear objective to show leadership in sustainable development.
Learn more about our relations with people and the community and our actions with respect to the environment.
Pre-consultations with all project stakeholders, including business partners, government agencies, local communities and interest groups Open houses held for the local population to help integrate the project into the community Submission by the MPA of its expansion project description to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) With a team of experts from SNC-Lavalin, the MPA completed the environmental impact assessment, addressing many issues: road and rail traffic, aquatic and land environments, marine transportation, economic benefits and the human environment in terms of impacts on neighbouring communities. For the latter, the MPA consulted with local stakeholders, met with the Aboriginal communities affected, organized thematic workshops with local experts and held open houses at Contrecœur and Verchères. Publication of the Environmental Impact Statement on www.port-montreal.com Participation in the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency’s public consultations and information sessions to present the results of the study to the public and stakeholders Obtained up to $300 million in support from the Canada Infrastructure Bank Federal historical authorization to increase Montreal Port Authority’s borrowing limit to $480M Technical optimization of plans and quotes The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) releases its draft report on the Montreal Port Authority’s Contrecœur container terminal project January: Announcement of $55 million in financial assistance from the Quebec government March: the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada renders a favourable decision on the Contrecœur expansion project March: Announcement of additional financial support of $75 million from the Quebec government October: Announcement of a $150-million grant from the National Trade Corridors Fund (NTCF) and of the hybrid approach being implemented for the project's procurement and construction February: Agreement with Pomerleau and Aecon for the design of the project's in-water worksBackground
1988 to 1992
April to december 2014
December 2015
Fall 2016 to spring 2017
December 22, 2017
February 27 to March 1, 2018
2019
2020
2021
2023
2024
Governance
In 2021, upon receiving the favourable decision from Environment and Climate Change Canada allowing the Montreal Port Authority to go ahead with the project, the Project Management Office (PMO) was created.
This entity, headed by the Vice-President, Contrecœur, forms an integral part of the Port of Montreal and is fully dedicated to the Contrecœur expansion project. Comprised of experts in the fields of environmental science, engineering, law, procurement, project control and communications, this team oversees the procurement process and will interface with the private partner during the construction phase to ensure that all the project’s parameters are met. On a day-to-day basis, the team is also responsible for liaising with stakeholders and communities affected by the project, such as First Nations, governments, elected officials, citizens and interest groups. The team, furthermore, works closely with the various departments of the Montreal Port Authority to help it achieve its mission.
