Canada begins Montréal port expansion to boost trade capacity

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the start of construction on the Contrecœur Container Terminal Project, which will expand the port’s capacity by about 60%, marking the largest port expansion in eastern Canada’s history.

According to a statement, the project will add a new container terminal equipped with integrated rail, road and marine infrastructure and is expected to handle up to 1.15 million additional containers annually once completed.

Officials said the expansion will help ease pressure on the port, which is nearing its operational limits, and improve the movement of goods through the St. Lawrence Trade Corridor, a key gateway for Canadian exports and imports.

The government has committed C$1.16 billion in financing through the Canada Infrastructure Bank, alongside contributions from the Quebec government and other partners.

The project has been fast-tracked under the government’s Major Projects Office initiative, launched in 2025 to accelerate large-scale infrastructure developments.

Construction is expected to support around 4,000 jobs annually, with thousands more anticipated once the terminal becomes operational. The project is projected to generate about C$750 million in annual economic benefits.

The expansion, first proposed decades ago, had faced repeated delays but has now moved forward following streamlined approvals and coordination between federal, provincial, Indigenous and private-sector partners.

“Canada is building again,” Carney said in a statement, describing the project as a key step in boosting trade and economic independence.