Question Period Note: Port of Montreal Expansion Project (Contrecoeur)

• The expansion of the Port of Montreal is a project of national importance to Canada’s economy.
• The project has been rigorously reviewed and has met high environmental and regulatory standards, including those under the Fisheries Act and Species at Risk Act.
• Our Government is planning rigorous monitoring, over the next ten years and beyond, to ensure environmental standards are maintained. We remain committed to protecting species at risk, including the copper redhorse.

• The expansion project of the Port of Montreal in Contrecœur is a project of national interest aimed at increasing port capacity along the St. Lawrence corridor.
• It requires major work, including dredging and the construction of new infrastructure in the St. Lawrence river.
• According to the authorizations issued, the Montreal Port Authority is permitted to destroy a portion of the copper redhorse’s critical habitat equivalent to approximately 1.8 hectares to allow the work to proceed.
• The Copper Redhorse is a fish species endemic to Québec and listed as endangered. The Government of Canada and the Government of Québec have been investing in recovery efforts for more than 20 years.
• To offset the impacts of the project, the Montreal Port Authority will build rock structures designed to create aquatic vegetation beds in a heavily disturbed section of the river.
• These measures are intended to maintain or improve habitat conditions for the copper redhorse.
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada analyzed the project using scientific advice from several departments and areas of expertise.
• The authorization includes an environmental monitoring program of at least ten years, as well as the option to impose corrective measures if objectives are not met.
• On February 9, 2026, the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS /SNAP) and the Centre québécois du droit de l’environnement announced that they had filed an application for judicial review in Federal Court, challenging the legality of the authorization, which they argue is inconsistent with the requirements of the Species at Risk Act. Fisheries and Oceans Canada has not yet been officially notified of the filing.

• Judicial Review Application
• My Department has not yet been notified of a judicial review submitted to the Federal Court.
• If an application is filed, my Department will fully cooperate with the Federal Court process.