Canada biggest port projects and the builders behind them

Canada is heading into deeper waters.

Prime Minister Mark Carney has officially launched construction to expand the Port of Montreal, marking the first “nation-building” project to break ground under his government’s fast-tracked approval process. The project was designated a priority for national interest following Carney’s March 2025 inauguration to bolster economic resilience and trade diversification. By streamlining regulatory hurdles, the federal government aims to use this terminal and similar strategic infrastructure projects as a hedge against ongoing trade uncertainty with the U.S.

By utilizing the Major Projects Office to fast-track high-capacity terminals like Contrecœur and Roberts Bank, the federal government aims to bypass American supply chain reliance and offer global markets direct access to Canadian goods and critical minerals.

“In an increasingly divided and uncertain world, Canada’s new government is focused on what we can control,” said Carney at the Port of Montreal. “We are building a stronger, more independent, more resilient economy—an economy built on the solid foundation of strong Canadian industries and workers, bolstered by diverse international trade partners. To that end, we have launched the Major Projects Office to build new ports, mines, and trade corridors at a speed and scale not seen in generations.”

Will billions of dollars worth of port work on the horizon, Canadian builders will be needed more than ever to accomplish these goals. Here’s a peek at what’s in store and the companies already getting in on the action.

Port of Montreal: Contrecoeur Terminal (QC)

The Port of Montreal is expanding via a new terminal in Contrecoeur to add 1.15 million TEUs of annual capacity. A joint venture between Aecon and Pomerleau began critical in-water works in October 2025, with commercial operations targeted for 2030. This project was the first to be officially fast-tracked by the Major Projects Office (MPO) in September 2025, which expedited environmental permitting and facilitated the $1.16 billion Canada Infrastructure Bank loan. The expansion is designed as a public-private partnership where more than 85% of the infrastructure costs will be recovered through future revenues. The new terminal would provide the shortest shipping route between North America’s industrial heartland and markets in Europe.

Port of Vancouver: Roberts Bank Terminal 2

This $3.5 billion project involves building a new three-berth marine terminal to increase West Coast capacity by 2.4 million TEUs. The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is currently in a Collaborative Design-Build procurement phase, with the Request for Proposals closing in May 2026 and major construction expected to start in 2028. The MPO is currently intervening to harmonize the 370 federal conditions with provincial requirements to prevent further regulatory delays during the construction rollout. Three international consortiums—KLJ Partnership, Pacific Gateway Partners, and TerraMarine— have been shortlisted to compete for the landmass and wharf component.

Port of Prince Rupert: Ridley Island

The Ridley Island Energy Export Facility (REEF) is a $1.35 billion project co-owned by AltaGas Ltd. and Royal Vopak, designed to export liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) such as propane and butane to Asian markets. Using a self-perform construction management model led by AltaGas, the project reached a final investment decision in early 2024 and remains on track for completion by the end of 2026, with an additional $110 million expansion planned for 2027. However, the project is currently facing political headwinds as the Metlakatla First Nation officially withdrew its support and filed a lawsuit against the Prince Rupert Port Authority earlier this year, alleging that an “export monopoly” granted to REEF unfairly blocks the diversification plans of Trigon Pacific Terminals, in which the First Nation holds a stake.

Port of Halifax: Atlantic Hub Expansion

Managed by PSA Halifax, this project increases capacity to 1.36 million TEUs through harbor infilling and the extension of on-dock rail tracks to 14,000 feet. The work is being delivered through phased construction contracts and is nearing full completion, with a target date of mid-2026. The MPO has supported this progress by ensuring federal logistics benchmarks are met to keep the port’s rail integration on schedule.

Port Saint John: West Side Modernization

The award-winning $247 million West Side Modernization Project, which quadrupled container capacity, was completed in December 2025 through a partnership between the Port Authority and DP World. The work was led by a specialized partnership between engineering firms Hatch and Dillon Consulting. Their efforts have turned heads. In just one construction season, the team designed and constructed eight 27-meter-high concrete caissons, which have never been built to this size in Eastern Canada before. These caissons are one of the tallest backfilled caissons in North America. The facility now boasts an additional berth, a deepened and widened channel, a significantly increased laydown area, and enhanced intermodal capabilities. While the main expansion is now operational, a new phase to stabilize terminal caissons began in early 2026.

Port of Nanaimo: Duke Point Terminal

This $110 million project is being delivered by Pomerleau under a Design-Build contract to extend the berth and double the storage yard for DP World. Groundbreaking occurred in April 2025, and construction is currently on track for a March 2027 completion. The project team has applied for fast-track approval by the MPO. Once completed, the terminal’s berth length will nearly double from 182 metres to 325 metres, while cargo-handling capacity will expand to 280,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) annually. This will support larger vessels, provide improved services for importers and exporters, and facilitate smoother regional and international trade. The terminal expansion will also feature additional storage capacities designed to accommodate a wider array of cargo, including a dedicated 26,000 square-foot covered storage area for pulp products. DP World is also replacing the existing diesel-powered quay crane with two fully electric cranes.

Port of Churchill: Churchill Plus

Owned by the Indigenous-led Arctic Gateway Group, this project aims to turn Churchill into a year-round Arctic trade gateway by upgrading the Hudson Bay Railway. Pre-development work is currently funded through 2030. This February, project proponents announced announced the launch of a market sounding study to gather industry input on the long-term growth potential of the Port of Churchill Plus project. In September 2025, the project was identified by the MPO on its transformative strategies list. It has four elements: Creating a new energy corridor, upgrading the Hudson Bay Railway to Class 1 standards, dedicated marine ice-breaking capacity to extend the shipping season, and establishing an all-weather road to Churchill. Premier Wab Kinew has positioned the port as a strategic solution to Western Canada’s energy export impasse, openly pitching it to major energy companies as a future corridor for LNG, critical minerals, and agricultural products.

Port of Quebec: Laurentia Terminal

It’s still early days for the Laurentia project. The proposed $775 million deep-water container terminal is currently undergoing a significant redesign to meet environmental standards. The federal government did not approve the project as proposed in 2021, halting its development in its original form. It now remains in the pre-construction phase while the Port of Quebec addresses concerns regarding local air quality and fish habitats. It is now being re-evaluated under the “One Project, One Review” framework, which aims to fast-track a final federal cabinet decision by the end of 2026. The 31.7-hectare project would include the construction of a new berth and a retaining dike that would allow for the development of an additional 17 hectares of backshore space. The project also includes the construction of rail lines and road accesses.