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Prime Minister Mark Carney makes an announcement about the expansion of the Port of Montreal in Contrecoeur, Que., on Thursday, April 9, 2026. ANDREJ IVANOV \/ AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\nAfter nearly four decades of planning, major construction will begin this summer on a new Port of Montreal terminal, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Thursday, backed by $1.16 billion in federal financing.<\/p>\n
The $2.3-billion terminal in Contrecoeur, 40 kilometres northeast of Montreal, will handle up to 1.15 million containers per year, increasing the port\u2019s capacity by 60 per cent.<\/p>\n
\u201cWar in the Middle East, Russia\u2019s illegal invasion of Ukraine, and the new trade regimes are reshaping the global economy in real time,\u201d Carney told reporters in Contrecoeur.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome of these effects are immediate and profound: closing markets, disrupting supply chains, halting investments.\u201d<\/p>\n
In response, he said, \u201cCanada is focused on what we can control \u2014 building a stronger, more independent, more resilient economy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Mark Carney makes an announcement about the expansion of the Port of Montreal in Contrecoeur, Que., on Thursday, April 9, 2026. ANDREJ IVANOV \/ AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n
The federal government says it has committed $1.16 billion in financing through the Canada Infrastructure Bank \u201cto ensure investors had the certainty they needed to advance the terminal expansion quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carney said the new terminal shows his government\u2019s more nimble approach to major projects.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe vision for the terminal expansion was first proposed in 1988 \u2014 almost 40 years ago,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince then, it\u2019s been subject to delay after delay, extensive and duplicative regulations and approval processes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carney said that for too long, \u201cwhen the federal government examined a new project, the immediate question was: Why? Today, our new government starts by asking: How? How can we build it bigger? How can we build it faster? How can we build it now?\u201d<\/p>\n
He said Contrecoeur is \u201can example of a confident Canada \u2014 a country that\u2019s building again, that\u2019s connecting to the world.\u00a0With each shovel in the ground, with every new trade deal, we are building a stronger, more independent, more resilient country.\u201d<\/p>\n
Contrecoeur was one of 15 initiatives referred to the Major Projects Office, created by the federal government last year to fast-track \u201cnation-building\u201d projects. Contrecoeur will be the first to start construction.<\/p>\n
Preparatory work began at the site last fall<\/a>.<\/p>\n The new facility is expected to open in 2030.\u00a0Last fall, the port signed a deal with DP World under which the Dubai-based logistics company will build the terminal and operate it for 40 years.<\/p>\n Carney made the announcement as the Liberal Party of Canada began a three-day national convention<\/a> at Montreal\u2019s Palais des congr\u00e8s, where about 4,000 delegates are gathering to debate party policy.<\/p>\n Speaking in Contrecoeur, Quebec Economy Minister Jean Boulet said ongoing turbulence in supply chains and logistics networks highlights why it\u2019s important for Quebec to become more competitive and to diversify export markets.<\/p>\n He said the new terminal will boost exports and make Quebec more resilient.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is what will make Quebec and Canada succeed despite the international conditions we constantly face.\u201d<\/p>\n Boulet said the project \u201cdemonstrates once again that through collaboration, we are capable of achieving great things.\u201d<\/p>\n Last year, the Quebec\u00a0government said it would provide $130 million in financial assistance for the project.<\/p>\n Contrecoeur will support 4,000 jobs per year during construction, and once fully operational will support 10,000 jobs annually, Ottawa says.<\/p>\n The port says it needs the new terminal because it expects to soon run out of space at its main facility, a sprawling complex along the St. Lawrence River in Montreal\u2019s east end.<\/p>\n The terminal\u2019s construction has been the focus of years of environmental opposition<\/a> because it will take place in the habitat of an endangered fish.<\/p>\n