Transport Canada on Oct. 18 reported that it will invest up to C$38 million in seven port projects in Quebec through the National Trade Corridors Fund.
The Fund, a competitive, merit-based program, supports infrastructure improvement projects at airports, ports, railways, transportation facilities, and access roads to “improve the flow of goods and people in Canada; increase the flow of trade in and out of Canada; help the transportation system to withstand the effects of climate change and better adapt to new technologies and innovation; [and] address the transportation needs of Arctic and northern communities,” according to Transport Canada, which has committed C$4.1 billion to such projects since 2017.
Following are the recipients of the current round of funding:
- Quebec Port Authority — Project to Increase Capacity and Efficiency of Estuary Rail Yard. The C$723,600 award will alleviate bottlenecks during peak times by creating additional space for railcars, expanding the Estuary Yard with about 380 linear meters of new track, reducing the time needed for snow clearing on the tracks, and improving unloading efficiency by minimizing operational delays, according to Transport Canada. CN, Canadian Pacific Kansas City, Québec-Gatineau Railway, and The Charlevoix Railway serve the port.
- Quebec Port Authority — Project to Increase Terminal Storage Space at Pier 103. The C$1,198,185 award will help “reduce interruptions between storage areas, making operations more efficient,” according to Transport Canada. Warehouse 103 is slated to serve as a backup storage area to help manage congestion. Additionally, the project will help consolidate more goods at QSL terminals, especially in the agri-food, transportation, and construction industries, Transport Canada said.
- Quebec Port Authority — Relocation of Strategic and Essential Infrastructure for the Electrical Supply of the L’Anse au Foulon Sector (Pier 104 and 105) project. The C$1,638,500 award will go toward increasing storage capacity by approximately 3,000 m². This expansion is boosting the terminal’s overall storage capacity by about 15%, allowing it to handle new traffic while securing existing operations, and reducing waiting times for ships unloading cargo at the terminal, according to Transport Canada.
- Quebec Port Authority — Agreement for Development of New Dry Bulk and Cargo Terminal Behind Pier 108 in Anse au Foulon Sector. The C$6,800,000 award will be used to improve intermodal connectivity through the construction of a new terminal that supports ship-to-truck and truck-to-ship logistics, according to Transport Canada. It will also streamline operations by adding two new access roads to improve terminal and area accessibility. Additionally, the project will free up capacity at other deep-draft terminals, optimizing their use for handling and storage, according to the government.
- Montreal Port Authority — Increased Export Capacity for Canadian Containerized Grains project. The C$12,500,000 award will be used to increase the Canest Terminal’s capacity by 20%, “significantly improving its efficiency in handling goods,” according to Transport Canada, which added that the terminal will “expand and optimize its operational space, substantially boosting container storage capacity.” These upgrades, it said, will enable Canadian producers to expand exports to international markets “by easing constraints and eliminating a major bottleneck in the supply chain.”
- QSL International Ltée — Development of Port Terminals in Cities of Sorel-Tracy and Saint-Joseph-de-Sorel project. The C$13,613,683 award will be used to increase the fluidity of supply chains in the steel and agriculture sectors. “By increasing the annual volume of import-export goods, it will support the local and regional economy while significantly reducing the number of days ships spend waiting offshore and the time required for unloading,” Transport Canada reported. “Additionally, the initiative will mitigate environmental impacts by minimizing vessel diversions to other ports and decreasing the reliance on short-haul trucking.”
- Saguenay Port Authority — New Storage Area in Southwest Sector of Terminal project. The C$1,261,343 award will go toward improving trade flow by providing additional storage space in the St. Lawrence-Great Lakes maritime system, reducing long-distance transport needs, according to Transport Canada, which added that it will “support the logistics chain for bulk raw materials and promote short-distance maritime transport.”
“By enhancing connectivity and reducing bottlenecks in Quebec and the areas along the St. Lawrence River, consumers, workers, and small businesses will benefit from efficient and reliable supply chains,” said Anita Anand, who last month added Canadian Minister of Transport to her role as President of the country’s Treasury Board. “This, in turn, supports economic growth and helps make life cost less for Canadians and Quebecers.”
In a related development, Transport Canada recently reported that it will provide more than C$45 million for railway safety projects across the country.
