The expansion of Port Saint John plays a vital role in achieving Prime Minister Mark Carney’s goal of significantly boosting trade beyond the U.S., according to the federal trade minister during his visit to Saint John on Tuesday, where he celebrated the completion of nearly $250 million in port infrastructure enhancements.
“This is a coastal port and the third largest in Canada regarding tonnage,” remarked Steven MacKinnon. “We cannot realistically claim that we will double our non-U.S. trade without improved connections to global markets.”
“Saint John presents numerous strategic benefits. It operates year-round, has significant new infrastructure, and it is essential for Canada’s economic well-being that we keep these ports active,” he added.
As part of a modernization initiative on the west side that began nearly ten years ago, the port has invested in various improvements, including an extra berth, a deeper and wider shipping channel, and upgraded storage and transport capabilities.
Steven MacKinnon, the federal minister of transport, emphasized that enhancing and expanding port infrastructure is crucial for diversifying global trade. (Mark Leger/CBC)
Port CEO Craig Bell Estabrooks expressed his satisfaction that the modernization effort, which has spanned over a decade and involved various political administrations, was recognized during Tuesday’s ceremony, attended by current and former government officials, including Premier Susan Holt and ex-premier Blaine Higgs.
“We are extremely proud to commemorate the completion of this project, the momentum it has generated for our gateway, and the hundreds of jobs it has created along our waterfront,” stated Estabrooks.
The port will soon feature a 190,000-square-foot cold-storage facility, which is currently under construction.
MacKinnon highlighted that this facility, designed to store goods prior to their loading onto container ships, will serve a significant national purpose.
Steven MacKinnon, the federal transport minister, and Craig Bell Estabrooks, CEO of Port Saint John, engaged in a conversation about trade matters and the port during an event in Saint John on Tuesday. (Mark Leger/CBC)
“This means business that won’t go to the United States,” he noted.
“It supports New Brunswick’s exports of frozen and refrigerated foods. Additionally, it enhances Canada’s food security by functioning as an import hub for fresh and frozen produce and other goods… This represents business that typically goes to East Coast U.S. ports.”
The port has collaborated with Americold, which owns or manages 239 cold-storage facilities globally, to construct the $80-million facility on the west side, expected to be operational later this year.
MacKinnon assured that the federal government will continue to collaborate with the city and provincial authorities to enhance the shipping infrastructure in Saint John.
This includes plans to tackle traffic concerns at Simms Corner on the city’s west side, which anticipates worsening due to the projected rise in truck and train traffic to and from the port.
Describing it as a “matter of national significance,” MacKinnon stated the initiative is part of a shipping corridor and aims to facilitate smoother movement for trucks, trains, cars, and pedestrians navigating a busy and often chaotic major intersection.
“It is complex, costly, and involves multiple partners,” he remarked.
“This is a provincial roadway that connects to a port. It aids in the ongoing investments at Moosehead Breweries and the Irving mill. It forms part of a series of intricate projects aimed at alleviating congestion at the port and improving the flow of trains to the port, while also enhancing the quality of life for residents in Saint John.”
Thanks to the infrastructure enhancements made so far, the port has reported a fourfold increase in its potential annual shipping capacity, exceeding 800,000 TEUs, the industry standard for measuring cargo capacity.
Douglas Smith, the CEO of the container terminal operator DP World Canada, noted that the port has ambitious growth targets and the infrastructure to achieve them. (Mark Leger/CBC)
Douglas Smith, CEO of DP World Canada, which operates the container terminal, asserted that the infrastructure improvements are essential for the growth objectives.
“We have confidence in this location,” Smith stated. “We’ve committed to a multi-decade lease with options for extensions. Our commitment is long-term. We have faith in this and see the infrastructure necessary to facilitate it.”
Smith raised expectations when he mentioned last year that DP World aimed to reach one million TEUs annually in the future.
“At that time, we had just completed 175,000,” he explained. “Last year, we finished at 239,000. We’re forecasting over 300,000 this year and are aware of another 100,000 TEUs in business we plan to bring here. We’re already halfway there. It doesn’t seem unrealistic, does it?”