Montreal-area port expansion first ‘nation-building’ project to begin construction - BERITAJA

Construction has officially started connected a larboard description adjacent Montreal — the first alleged nation-building task that was fast-tracked for support by the national government.

Prime Minister Mark Carney was connected manus Thursday astatine the terminal successful Contrecœur, Que., about 45 kilometres northeast of Montreal, to denote the commencement of work.

It’s the first awesome project, deemed by the national authorities to beryllium successful the nationalist interest, to get disconnected the crushed since Carney became premier curate successful March 2025.

Carney’s authorities had chosen Contrecœur and a bid of different “nation-building” projects to beryllium fast-tracked arsenic a measurement to fortify and diversify the system amid waste and acquisition uncertainty pinch the United States.

The Port of Montréal’s description astatine Contrecœur was referred successful September to the government’s awesome projects office, which helped streamline approvals, create a financing exemplary and velocity up permits.

The authorities says the task is the largest larboard description successful Canadian history and will summation the Port of Montreal’s capacity by about 60 per cent and create thousands of jobs.

In a news release, the national authorities says the task had been first projected 40 years agone and had faced delays ever since.

Ottawa said it provided the Montreal Port Authority pinch $1.16 cardinal successful financing done the Canada Infrastructure Bank.

Residents and environmentalists person expressed interest about the project, describing it arsenic harmful to the aquatic ecosystem and economically unnecessary. The building tract is successful the feeding crushed of the copper redhorse, a freshwater food recovered only successful a fewer rivers successful the St. Lawrence Plain.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada authorized the task successful the autumn aft accepting the Montreal Port Authority’s mitigation plan, which includes building a caller feeding area for the endangered fish.

The authorities says a 2nd shape of building is expected to statesman successful 2027 and afloat operations could statesman successful 2030.