QUESTION PERIOD — Transport
Port of Montreal
April 15, 2026
My question is for the Government Representative in the Senate.
As a senator from Quebec, I welcome the long-awaited expansion of the Port of Montreal’s Contrecœur terminal, an important nation-building project that will increase capacity by approximately 60% and strengthen our supply chains. This expansion could not come at a better time.
Thanks in part to the leadership of the Major Projects Office, we learned last week that this multi-billion-dollar project is now supported by a $1.16-billion federal loan through the Canada Infrastructure Bank and involves multiple public and private partners.
Given past cost increases and the scale of public investment, can the government outline what concrete oversight, cost-control measures and reporting mechanisms are in place to ensure the project remains on budget and is transparent and that accountability to Parliament and Canadians is maintained throughout its implementation?
Thank you for the question, Senator Loffreda.
As you mentioned, the federal financing announced last week is a loan through the Canada Infrastructure Bank to the Montreal Port Authority, alongside contributions from Transport Canada, for $150 million; the Quebec government, for $130 million; and private-sector partners.
Loans from the Canada Infrastructure Bank follow a formal multi-stage investment and risk-management process, with oversight by its management board, investment committee and its independent board of directors.
The project is also being delivered through a financing model which would require the loan to be repaid through autonomous revenues and contributions of the private sector as the terminal operator.
The Port of Montreal is continuing to work with experts at the Major Projects Office to ensure that the project advances in a very responsible way.
Thank you for that answer.
Recent reports of senior management departures at the Montreal Port Authority, including the abrupt exit of its CEO, raise concerns about governance and continuity at a critical time for this project.
Given the magnitude and complexity of the Contrecœur expansion, how is the government ensuring stable leadership, strong project management and proper oversight to mitigate the risks associated with these changes?
Such an important project, Senator Loffreda, is not dependent on any one individual among the port authority. The Montreal Port Authority has confirmed a board‑led interim structure with senior management continuity, and the project itself has dedicated board-level oversight.
At the federal level, it remains subject to the Canada Infrastructure Bank’s independent oversight, risk management and public reporting to Parliament, ensuring continuity and accountability through strong institutions.
