Montreal Port Authority Receives Approval to Expand Container Port Terminal, Despite Concerns for Endangered Fish
The Montreal Port Authority has been given approval by Fisheries and Oceans Canada to expand its container port terminal in Contrecœur, Quebec, despite concerns raised by environmental groups about the potential impact on an endangered fish species.
The approval, granted on Thursday, allows the port authority to proceed with the project that is set to increase the port’s infrastructure capacity by 60%. The federal government had fast-tracked the project for approval by referring it to the Major Projects Office in September.
While the port authority maintains that the project will meet all environmental requirements, nature advocacy group SNAP Québec has announced its intention to challenge the authorization in court. The group is particularly concerned about the impact of dredging in the habitat of the copper redhorse, a species unique to the St. Lawrence River.
Alain Branchaud, the director of SNAP Québec, warns that the project could jeopardize the recovery and survival of the endangered fish species.
In response, Port Authority CEO Julie Gascon has reiterated the commitment to environmental compliance, stating that the project will proceed as planned with in-water works expected to start in 2026 and the new terminal scheduled for commissioning in 2030.
