Port Expansion Plans Move Forward in Montreal

Contrecœur Terminal receives new funding & new construction model, as it moves to address capacity concerns by adding significant capacity.

The Montreal Port Authority has secured up to $150M CAD in federal funding as it moves forward with its Contrecœur Terminal expansion project.1 Similar to the expansion project underway at Roberts Bank Terminal just south of Vancouver, the Contrecœur development aims to address concerns about capacity limits.

“This financial backing from the federal government sends a strong message about our large Contrecœur expansion project and the future of the logistics ecosystem in the St. Lawrence corridor,” said Geneviève Deschamps, Interim President and Chief Executive Officer of the port. “It lets us embark on the next steps with confidence, so that we can continue to play our vital role as a sustainable economic driver at the heart of the Quebec and Canadian economies.”2

New Docks, Rail Networking, Roads

The expansion is set to include a dock for ships measuring 675 meters as well as a rail network that connects it to CN tracks. Road access will connect the terminal to the public network. Operations and administrative buildings and a container handling yard will also be added.3

Plans for the Contrecœur expansion project have been in development since the 1980s, with the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada rendering a favourable decision on the proposal in March of 2021.4

60% Capacity Increase, ‘Significant’ Economic Spin-off

According to the Montreal Port Authority, capacity concerns make the project a necessity,5 and will help them continue to service markets in Quebec, Ontario, and the U.S. Midwest.3 The MPA describes itself as “a hub of world trade and the economic engine of Greater Montreal.”6

Once the expansion is complete, the Contrecoeur terminal will be capable of handling 1.15 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) per year. 5 This will represent an increase equal to 60% of the containers handled in Montreal at the current time. 5

The MPA says that the project will have significant economic spin-off for the region, with 8,000 jobs estimated to be added during the construction phase, and 1,200 jobs remaining once the expansion is operational. It also promises $140 million per year in economic spin-offs across the country. 5 

Hybrid Construction Model

The method in which the project will be carried out is evolving, with the MPA recently announcing that it will be adopting a hybrid construction model, handling an increased amount of the work itself.

According to Deschamps, the new procurement process put forward will “enable us to control risks, project works and costs more effectively.”2

Cost estimates on the project, meanwhile, have increased substantially, with the original 2019 budget of $950 million skyrocketing to $1.4 billion amid inflationary pressures.1

Rigorous Environmental Assessment Process 

Similarly to the Robert Banks project, the Contrecœur expansion is under pressure to consider environmental and social factors.

According to the MPA, they have “undergone a rigorous environmental assessment process, which set out hundreds of conditions and commitments that the MPA must adhere to.”4

They say that the project has been conceived with the input of diverse stakeholders, including First Nations, and that they have “a clear objective to show leadership in sustainable development.” 4 

Cited Sources

1 Praet, Nicolas Van. “Port of Montreal Secures $150-Million in Federal Funding for Container Terminal Expansion.” The Globe and Mail, October 10, 2023. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-port-of-montreal-contrecoeur-terminal/

2 Bahtić, Fatima. “Port of Montreal Nets $150M for Container Terminal Project.” Offshore Energy, October 17, 2023. https://www.offshore-energy.biz/port-of-montreal-nets-150m-for-container-terminal-project/

3 RLuthra. “$150 Million Federal Funding Granted for Port of Montreal Expansion.” Chamber of Shipping, October 12, 2023. https://shippingmatters.ca/150-million-federal-funding-granted-for-port-of-montreal-expansion/

4 “All about the Project.” Le Port de Montréal. Accessed October 17, 2023. https://www.port-montreal.com/en/ctc-home/ctc-project

5 “Contrecœur Terminal Expansion Project.” Contrecœur Terminal – Expansion project. Accessed October 17, 2023. https://www.port-montreal.com/en/the-port-of-montreal/projects/terminal-in-contrecoeur

6 “About the Port.” Le Port de Montréal. Accessed October 17, 2023. https://www.port-montreal.com/en/the-port-of-montreal/about-the-port#:~:text=A%20seaport%20in%20the%20heart,economic%20engine%20of%20Greater%20Montreal

7 Petrozzi, Andrew. “Port of Montreal Secures $150-Million for Container Terminal Expansion Project in Contrecoeur: Andrew Petrozzi Posted on the Topic.” LinkedIn, October 11, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/andrew-petrozzi-46296610_port-of-montreal-secures-150-million-in-activity-7118019672742006784-HOh0/?trk=public_profile_like_view