The Montreal Port Authority has informed the City of Contrecœur and the Municipality of Verchères of its intention to establish mutual benefit agreements with each regarding the future Contrecœur container terminal.
The MPA aims to enhance its local involvement and respond to community needs, notably through existing local initiatives.
While mutual benefit agreements are common in the private sector, this marks a first for the Montreal Port Authority, a federal autonomous agency.
Intended for Contrecœur, where the project will be located, and Verchères, its neighbouring municipality, each agreement seeks to ensure maximum economic, social, and environmental benefits by identifying concrete actions helping both parties achieve their goals.
Already involved in the community through support for approximately twenty organizations, the Port of Montreal is opening the door to new collaborations such as green space improvements, youth employment programs, interpretive activities, or community investments.
Julie Gascon, President and CEO of the Montreal Port Authority, highlighte that the intention is that the port’s Contrecœur development must have a positive impact not only on the supply chain supporting our businesses, but also on the local and regional community.
The Montreal Port Authority and its future operator will contribute annually through substantial fiscal payments that reflect the public nature of port activities while recognizing the importance of municipal services.
Municipalities are already benefiting from port-related business arrivals, creating jobs and stimulating the local economy.
The project will directly strengthen the competitiveness of the 6,700 exporting businesses in Greater Montreal and the 3,000 manufacturers in Montérégie, one of Quebec’s most export-oriented regions.
It is these businesses’ presence that led the MPA to collaborate with the MRC of Marguerite-D’Youville and its development service to maximize benefits.
The Contrecœur expansion project underwent thorough review by over 20 ministries and agencies, alongside a broad public consultation process over several years.
In 2021, the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada issued a favourable decision with 387 implementation conditions, making it the most extensive environmental and social monitoring effort ever undertaken in Canada in anticipation of a port terminal in an existing industrial zone.
To ensure harmonious coexistence well before operations begin, the Port of Montreal has proactively established or will soon establish:
- a port-community committee
- a liaison committee with the City of Contrecœur
- a good neighbour table with Verchères residents living near the project site
- various technical and follow-up committees with municipalities and the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility
These committees have been gradually implemented and complement the accountability required by the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada.
