Significant New Building Canada Fund investment will promote national prosperity
July 8, 2015 –– Saint John, New Brunswick – Infrastructure Canada
Rodney Weston, Member of Parliament for Saint John, on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, was joined today by Peter Gaulton, Chairman of Port Saint John, and Jim Quinn, President and Chief Executive Officer of Port Saint John, to announce $68.3 million in federal funding for a project to modernize Port Saint John's Westside terminals under the National Infrastructure Component of the New Building Canada Fund.
The $205 million project involves improving and consolidating the Rodney and Navy Island terminals to allow the Port to accommodate larger vessels. New operational systems and technology will also be installed to enhance cargo-handling capabilities. The project covers a 60-acre area: 25 acres will be transformed into container storage, 10 acres into a multipurpose yard, and the rest will be used for terminal access roads, stevedoring operations, trans-loading and cargo-consolidation warehouses, and lay-down areas for break-bulk and project cargoes. The main channel at the Port will also be deepened from 8.4 to 10 metres as part of the project.
Port Saint John is a year-round, deep water port that handles an average of 28 million tonnes of diverse cargo annually. With global connections to more than 350 ports around the world, Port Saint John is a major facilitator of trade and part of Canada's Atlantic Gateway to global marine markets. It also harbours cruise ships in the Canada–New England market.
This project will help ensure the port can support growth and meet increasing demand, reinforcing its status as a global shipping link while stimulating economic activity and development at the local, regional and national level. This funding is conditional on the project meeting applicable federal eligibility requirements with respect to the New Building Canada Fund, and the signing of a contribution agreement.
This is the first announcement under the National Infrastructure Component of the New Building Canada Fund in New Brunswick. This component is providing $4 billion in financial support for projects with far-reaching benefits for all Canadians. It supports infrastructure of national significance that has a strong impact on Canada's competitiveness, productivity and economic well-being.
Vincent Rabault
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and
Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
613-943-1838
Véronique Taylor
Communications
Finance & Transportation and Infrastructure
506-453-4138
Veronique.Taylor@gnb.ca
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll-free 1-877-250-7154
Email: media@infc.gc.ca
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Website: Infrastructure Canada