On February 17, the Government of Quebec announced $130 million in financial assistance for the Port of Montreal’s expansion project in Contrecoeur. The announcement was made at Contrecoeur’s multiplex centre by Geneviève Guilbault, Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, and François Legault, Premier of Quebec.

This financial assistance supports a project that is vital to meet the growth of shipping trade and strengthen the economic competitiveness of Quebec and Canada. With this expansion, the Port of Montreal will be able to increase its capacity to 1.15 million containers, providing new business opportunities to companies in Quebec and the rest of Canada by making it easier to access international markets. This, in turn, confirms the MPA’s key role in the North American supply chain while even further bolstering the use of the St. Lawrence River as a sustainable trade corridor.

“Trade diversification can only be brought about through the river and by a port. The increase in our container handling capacity represents new opportunities for local companies that want to turn to other markets and do business with one of the 140 countries that can be reached through the Port of Montreal. Not only is our Contrecoeur expansion an important and essential project, in today’s context, it has become urgent. This type of major project is an instrument of resilience and economic sovereignty; it is the project of a generation. To bring such projects to life, we need the support of all levels of government. I thank the Government of Quebec for believing in us, but above all for believing in the extraordinary potential of Quebec’s maritime industry.”—Julie Gascon, President and CEO of the Port of Montreal

At present, the project continues to progress through the various stages leading to completion:

  • The water-based component of the project is in the planning stage, in collaboration with Pomerleau and Aecon.
  • Concurrently, the process of identifying a partner for the land-based component and operation of the future terminal is underway.
  • Work is scheduled to start by the end of 2025, with services starting by 2030.