Procedure initiated for contract granting by the Commission.
The Montreal Port Authority (MPA) is gearing up to start construction of a new port in Contrecœur as early as September 2025, with preparatory work potentially beginning on September 29. This comes after the environmental permitting process has advanced significantly [1][2].
The project, estimated to cost $1.4 billion [3], incorporates robust environmental measures and monitoring programs to minimise impacts during construction and operation. These measures include monitoring the physical environment and human environment, with ongoing communication and engagement efforts to address community and First Nations concerns [1][2].
However, the project's location near the St. Lawrence River raises concerns about potential environmental impacts. These include effects on local ecosystems and biodiversity due to habitat disruption, impact on water quality and aquatic life from construction and increased port activity, and possible disturbance to nearby protected areas such as migratory bird sanctuaries and wildlife areas [4].
The MPA states that environmental conditions form part of their implementation framework, ensuring mitigation measures are integral to the project phases [2]. The public information sessions emphasise transparency, and environmental monitoring will continue throughout.
It's worth noting that the MPA has already planted 22,000 plants to compensate for the tree cutting, and plans to begin the "construction" of the compensation project in October [5]. However, concerns have been raised about the effectiveness of these measures in compensating for the losses to endangered species such as the coppery chaser [6].
The MPA's new port project also involves the destruction of wetlands and the pumping of up to 1.4 million liters of water per day from the St. Lawrence River during construction [7]. The development of the infrastructure will require the felling of approximately 13,000 trees, including more than 3,000 for preparatory work [8].
The MPA's new port project aims to handle 1.15 million containers and up to 1,200 trucks per day [9]. The project has received significant funding, with Quebec investing $260 million in public funds, while Ottawa has provided $450 million [10].
The project's potential impacts on the quality of life, environment, and health of residents in the region continue to be a subject of discussion [11]. The essential habitat of the coppery chaser could be destroyed by this time, and legal action could be launched if the federal government grants the SARA permit for the destruction of portions of its habitat [6].
The Legault government has expressed a desire for the Contrecoeur project to be authorized, but opposes the federal decision to protect the essential habitat of the copper redhorse [6]. Some funding from Ottawa was provided before the end of the environmental assessment of the project [12]. According to the online accessible schedule, the compensation project would not be completed before 2029 [13].
References: 1. Montreal Port Authority 2. Environment and Climate Change Canada 3. Government of Quebec 4. Parks Canada 5. Société pour la nature et les parcs du Québec 6. The Canadian Press 7. CBC News 8. Radio-Canada 9. Journal de Montréal 10. Le Devoir 11. La Presse 12. Global News 13. Montreal Gazette
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