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MONTREAL \u2014 The Montreal Port Authority says it intends to begin preparatory work this fall on its planned expansion in the nearby town of Contrec\u0153ur, Que.<\/p>\n
The project still requires authorization from Fisheries and Oceans Canada because it would be built in the habitat of the endangered copper redhorse fish.<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Mark Carney included the port expansion in his government\u2019s list of five nation-building projects to be fast-tracked<\/a> under new legislation.<\/p>\n The port wants to increase its capacity by expanding the Contrec\u0153ur terminal to eventually handle an estimated 1.5 million containers annually.<\/p>\n Port authorities say the preparatory work would begin in the coming weeks and includes installing fences and access roads, constructing work platforms, selective tree cutting, and outfitting offices.<\/p>\n The preparatory work also involves dredging the bottom of the St. Lawrence River, habitat of the copper redhorse, found only in a limited section of the St. Lawrence River and a few tributaries, such as the Richelieu River,.<\/p>\n A plan to mitigate the expansion\u2019s effect on the redhorse habitat requires approval from Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and port authorities are hopeful it could come by the end of November.<\/p>\n \u00a92025 The Canadian Press<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n