Port of Montréal expands global reach thanks to new container terminal

Montreal, November 18, 2016 – Investments made by the Government of Canada and the Montréal Port Authority to enhance the Port of Montréal’s infrastructure will make the global movement of goods more fluid, create direct and indirect jobs in transportation systems across the country, contribute to national prosperity and help grow the middle class.

The Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and Ms. Sylvie Vachon, President and CEO of the Montréal Port Authority, today celebrated the inauguration of a new container terminal in the Viau sector.

The new container terminal will boost the Port of Montréal’s handling capacity by 450,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent unit). The new terminal, together with the work done previously and the second phase of work to be completed in the years to come, will bring the total handling capacity in the Viau sector to 600 000 TEUs, and the Port of Montréal’s overall handling capacity to 2.1 million TEUs.

The construction of the new terminal is part of a broader port capacity optimization project covering three essential areas: the terminal’s container-handling capacity, marine access and road access. The Port of Montréal must be active on all three fronts to establish the right balance between facilitating traffic and ensuring that activities continue to run smoothly.

The Government of Canada is contributing a third of the eligible funding for all three project components to a maximum of $43,666,667 under the National Infrastructure Component of the New Building Canada Fund. Of this amount, up to $27.2 million is available to fund the new container terminal. The remainder of the funding will be attributed to the project’s other two components.

Quick facts

  • The Port of Montréal is the second-largest container port in Canada and the fifth largest on the east coast of North America.
  • It is a strategic asset that benefits the entire Canadian economy.
  • It is the only container-handling port in Quebec and Ontario. One in four shipping containers handled in Canada passes through this key trading hub.
  • It is the most direct intermodal link between the industrial heartland of North America and the markets of Northern Europe and the Mediterranean, giving it a key role across the country.

Source

Marie-France Daoust

Marie-France Daoust is Director of Corporate Affairs at the Société de développement économique du Saint-Laurent (Sodes). With more than 15 years’ experience in entrepreneurship, 10 years in strategic management within the Quebec government and 5 years in public and government affairs, she stands out for her leadership and ability to bring people together. In her role, she is responsible for developing business growth strategy, forging strategic partnerships, and mobilizing maritime organizations around today’s major issues.