Spending set for Port of Thunder Bay upgrades
Written by Kyra Senese, Managing Editor, Railway Track & Structures
Photo: Port of Thunder Bay
Ottawa is looking north in its latest plans to boost transportation infrastructure development.
Canadian Minister of Transport Marc Garneau and Patty Hajdu, minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, announced July 3 a C$7.5 million ($5.7 million) investment in a project to bolster the infrastructure of the Port of Thunder Bay.
The project scope entails adding tracks and laydown areas for cargo staging and transshipment to respond to increased demand, and building a 4,645 square-meter (49,998 square-feet) multi-purpose heated facility to meet requirements of terminal users.
After the project’s completion, officials expect to see enhanced trade flow by easing capacity constraints and bottlenecks, and providing shippers with more options to meet their requirements.
“Our government is investing in Canada’s economy by making improvements to our trade and transportation corridors,” Garneau said. “We are supporting projects that will efficiently move commercial goods to market and people to their destinations, stimulate economic growth, create quality middle-class jobs, and ensure that Canada’s transportation networks remain competitive and efficient.”
The project is also expected to boost the transportation system’s resilience amid a changing climate and improve its adaptability to new technologies and innovation.
The government of Canada is supporting infrastructure projects that contribute most to Canada’s continued success in international trade.
“Transportation and distribution of goods are a vital part of our local, regional and national economies,” Hajdu said. “The investment announced here today will make our transportation system stronger by addressing urgent capacity constraints at the Port of Thunder Bay and fostering long-term prosperity for our community.”
Projects being funded are set to support economic activity and the physical movement of goods or people in Canada, in addition to helping the transportation system withstand the effects of climate change, officials said.
Work is also expected to address transportation bottlenecks and congestion along Canada’s trade corridors and increase the fluidity of Canadian trade worldwide through its ports, railways, intermodal facilities, bridges and border crossings.
Among those eligible for funding under the National Trade Corridors Fund are provincial, territorial and municipal governments, Indigenous groups, not-for-profit and for-profit private-sector organizations, federal Crown Corporations, Canadian Port Authorities, and National Airport System Airport Authorities.
The $2 billion National Trade Corridors Fund is one component of the $180 billion Investing in Canada Plan, which is described as the government of Canada’s strategy for addressing long-term infrastructure needs.
