Canada Invests $254 Million to Expand Saint John Trade Corridor

The Government of Canada announced an investment of up to $254 million through the Trade Diversification Corridors Fund to support the Saint John Trade Corridor project. The federal contribution is part of a larger $463 million partnership that includes $116.4 million from the Government of New Brunswick, $72.5 million from J.D. Irving Ltd., and $20 million from the Saint John Port Authority.

The project aims to increase the Port of Saint John's annual container-handling capacity to between 850,000 and 1 million twenty-foot equivalent units. Infrastructure upgrades include dredging marine facilities to increase tidal windows for loaded vessels by 30%, expanding port warehouses, and constructing a new Canada Border Services Agency container examination facility.

Rail improvements focus on the New Brunswick Southern Railway, where 103 kilometers of track will be upgraded to increase mainline speeds to 64 km/h. Additional work includes stabilizing the Bayshore Rail Terminal shoreline and rebuilding the Simms Corner roadway intersection to separate road and rail traffic. Officials stated these investments are intended to reduce transit delays, diversify trade markets, and reinforce Canada's position as a reliable global trading partner.