Glimmer of hope in the construction project of the industrial container terminal in Contrecœur: the federal Minister of Transport, Omar Alghabra, undertakes “to find a solution” in order to ensure that the Montreal Port Authority (MPA) have the necessary funds for this project to go ahead as planned.
Minister Omar Alghabra made this commitment after discussing this file at length with the President and CEO of the APM, Martin Imbleau, on Tuesday. The Contrecœur project, which should see the light of day in the suburbs of Montreal, is considered crucial by the business community in Quebec and Ontario to consolidate the supply chain in the east of the country.1.
“Our government, the Ministry of Transport and I understand the importance of the Port of Montreal, not only for the region, not only for Quebec, but for the whole country. As an MNA from Ontario, I know how valuable the Port of Montreal is for Ontario businesses and citizens,” said Mr. Alghabra in a press scrum.
PHOTO JUSTIN TANG, THE CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES
Federal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra
The financial package for this important project was turned upside down by inflation. Result: the initial invoice no longer holds. Initially, the cost of the project was estimated to be between $750 million and $950 million. But inflationary pressures have forced the MPA in recent weeks to issue an urgent appeal to Quebec and Ottawa to ensure that this project sees the light of day.
The Legault government responded to this call in its latest budget by putting an additional $75 million on the table. The MPA was crossing its fingers that Ottawa would also loosen its purse strings in its latest budget, to the tune of 150 million. But Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland did not say a word about it, fueling concerns about the feasibility of the project.
The APM then made it known that the missing funding had to be found by the end of April so that the project could be set in motion towards the end of the year.2as expected.
I recognize the urgency of this file and we are working very quickly to get an answer as quickly as possible. We’re looking at what the most appropriate funding envelope is and how much more we can do.
Omar Alghabra, Federal Minister of Transport
By releasing a new envelope in its budget, the Legault government supports the project to the tune of 130 million. The Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) must also offer 300 million in loans. The MPA and its private partner – which should be selected during the summer – must complete the financial package. Financial support from the Trudeau government, combined with the additional effort from Quebec, would make it possible to absorb the effects of inflation, according to the APM.
” Time flies “
Joined by The Press Wednesday, the CEO of the APM, Martin Imbleau, said he was reassured by the words of the Minister of Transport.
“I spoke at some length with the Minister [mardi]. He confirmed to me once again that the expansion of the port at Contrecœur was highly strategic for Quebec, Ontario and Canada. He told me that the Government of Canada intends to be there to financially support the project and he also told me that he was working actively with his teams and the government on the means to do so. He wants to make an announcement soon,” said Mr. Imbleau.
It would be a matter of weeks, not months.
Martin Imbleau, President and CEO of the Montreal Port Authority
“It was a constructive conversation. Time flies. Time is running out and so it was a positive conversation that keeps us moving forward. We can’t wait to have the confirmations soon, ”he added.
Behind the scenes, influential ministers from Quebec within the Trudeau government have taken many steps to ensure that this file is treated as a priority. “It’s a matter of life or death for Contrecœur. Quebec is already there. We cannot not be there. It’s also a matter of fairness with the Port of Vancouver,” said a government source familiar with the matter, who requested anonymity because she was not authorized to speak publicly about the matter.
The Contrecœur terminal should be able to handle 1.15 million “twenty-foot equivalent” (TEU) containers annually. The Port of Montreal, which can accommodate up to approximately 2 million cans, is expected to reach full capacity in 2027.