Project Overview 

Location: Contrecoeur, Quebec (40 km northeast of Montreal) Project Type: Container terminal expansion Proponent: Montreal Port Authority Status: Major Projects Office priority designation (September 2025) 

Project Description 

New container terminal facility on federal lands to increase Port of Montreal capacity by approximately 60%. Site acquired in late 1980s, consultations commenced over decade ago. Maximum annual capacity: 1.15 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). 

Investment Value 

Estimated Capital: $1.5-2 billion CAD Capacity Increase: 60% boost to existing Port of Montreal operations 

Timeline 

• September 2025: Major Projects Office priority designation 

• Current: Final permitting and design phase 

• Construction: 3-4 years post-approval 

• Operations: Late 2020s target 

Indigenous Partnerships 

Treaty Context: Historic treaties covering St. Lawrence corridor Consultation Status: Crown obligations based on potential impacts to Aboriginal rights including navigation, fisheries, traditional waterway use Partnership Model: Benefit agreements focusing on employment, procurement, community investments 

Quebec Framework: 

• Consultation differs from BC coastal marine territorial assertions 

• Benefits-focused versus territorial control model 

• Established Montreal Port Authority Indigenous engagement protocols 

Regulatory Status 

• Major Projects Office designated (September 2025) 

• Federal environmental assessment (federal lands) 

• Provincial coordination 

• Navigation and marine permits 

• Two-year approval timeline target 

Technical Specifications 

Capacity: 1.15 million TEUs maximum annual Infrastructure: Terminal facilities, container handling equipment, rail connections Strategic Value: Diversifies Canadian trade routes, reduces Vancouver concentration Market Access: Transatlantic shipping, northeastern North American markets 

Key Risks 

Lower Risk Profile: 

• Land acquisition completed (1980s) 

• Decade+ consultation history 

• Southern Quebec location (less remote than western ports) 

• Established Port Authority operations 

• Major Projects Office priority support 

Moderate Risks: 

• St. Lawrence navigation coordination 

• Environmental assessment completion 

• Labour force availability 

Investment Opportunities 

• Major Projects Office streamlined approval 

• Strategic Eastern Canada trade capacity 

• European trade relationship strengthening 

• Diversification from West Coast ports 

• Established Montreal Port Authority financial capacity 

Employment Impact 

Construction: 1,000+ jobs during build-out Operations: Hundreds of permanent positions Economic Impact: Significant Quebec regional development