By Caribbean News Global 
MONTREAL, Canada – In September 2025, Canada’s new government referred the Contrecœur Container Terminal Project at the Port of Montréal to the MPO. Today, less than seven months later, the prime minister, Mark Carney, announced breaking ground on this transformative project.
“The Contrecœur Container Terminal Project is about more than the expansion of a port – it is a signal that Canada is building again. With each shovel in the ground, we are building a stronger, more independent, more resilient Canadian economy. In less than seven months, this project went from a proposal to a construction site. That is the speed and ambition we need to build Canada strong,” said Carney, prime minister of Canada.
This project will expand the capacity of the Port of Montréal by approximately 60 percent – making it the largest eastern port expansion in Canadian history. The expansion will add a modern, high-efficiency container terminal with integrated rail, road, and marine infrastructure. It will unlock one of Canada’s most critical trade corridors, enabling significantly more goods to move reliably through the St Lawrence gateway.
“Canada’s new government is diversifying our trade partnerships abroad and building our strength at home. We’ve secured more than 20 economic and security partnerships in less than a year, and launched the Major Projects Office (MPO) to build new ports, mines, highways, and trade and energy corridors at a speed and scale not seen in generations. These new major infrastructure projects will help us unleash the full potential of these trade partnerships by connecting more Canadian communities and businesses to each other, and Canada to the world.”
According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) – communications:
“In an increasingly divided and uncertain world, Canada’s new government is focused on what we can control. We are building a stronger, more independent, more resilient economy – an economy built on the solid foundation of strong Canadian industries and workers, bolstered by diverse international trade partners.”
The vision for this terminal expansion was first proposed nearly 40 years ago and has been subject to delays ever since. Through the MPO, Canada’s new government brought partners together – the government of Québec, the Montréal Port Authority, Indigenous partners, and the private sector – to move this project forward. The MPO streamlined approvals, developed an effective financing model, and helped secure permits faster. The federal government also committed $1.16 billion in financing through the Canada Infrastructure Bank to ensure investors had the certainty they needed to advance this terminal expansion quickly.
“Expanding capacity at the Port of Montréal ensures the port will meet increased demand, seize future growth opportunities, and maintain the efficient movement of goods for Canadian businesses and consumers into the future. The project will support 4,000 high-paying jobs a year during construction and thousands more once operational. It will generate roughly $750 million annually in economic benefits and strengthen supply chain resilience across Canada,” says PMO. “Canada’s new government has a clear mandate to build a stronger Canadian economy – one that is more independent and more resilient to global shocks. At the heart of this mission is accelerating major infrastructure projects that will connect and transform our economy and country.”
Dominic LeBlanc, president of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and minister responsible for Canada-US trade, intergovernmental affairs, internal trade and one Canadian economy:
“Breaking ground on the Contrecœur Terminal is a key milestone for Canada’s economy and supply chains. By expanding the Port of Montréal, this nation-building project will create jobs, boost trade, and connect Canadian goods to global markets. With the support of the Major Projects Office, we remain committed to accelerating other transformative projects that drive prosperity and strengthen Canada’s connections to the world.”
