The Government is committed to supporting initiatives that improve trade while fostering economic growth and employment. To this end, the federal government announced that it would provide up to $15 million over two years to support the construction of a rail link and intermodal rail yard at the Port of Saguenay in Saguenay, Quebec. The project is expected to be completed by March 31, 2014.
The project will help improve the performance, capacity and competitiveness of maritime facilities, in addition to facilitating interprovincial and international trade and improving the competitiveness of Quebec and Canada. It will also foster investment, economic growth and job creation, and increase the competitiveness of Northern Quebec businesses by providing them with transport options that reduce their environmental impact. According to the Port of Saguenay authorities, the improvements are anticipated to generate 125 jobs.
The improvements to the Port’s infrastructure – funded in part through Transport Canada’s Gateways and Border Crossings Fund – will help advance the flow of goods. The Fund supports transport infrastructure projects in order to develop and exploit Canada’s strategic gateways, trade corridors and border crossings.
These improvements also support Canada’s Continental Gateway initiative, which aims to create a transport system that is viable, integrated and globally competitive in terms of international trade in order to support economic growth in Quebec, Ontario, and throughout Canada.
The project, which is estimated to cost $36 million, consists of the construction of a 12.5-kilometre rail link from the Roberval & Saguenay Railway line to the Port of Saguenay. The project will also include the construction of an intermodal rail yard at the port, including storage and handling areas, as well as railway tracks needed for transit operations.
