Minister Ashfield tours Atlantic Gateway investments at the Port of Halifax

HALIFAX –The Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, today visited the Port of Halifax to mark progress on two significant projects. Led by Halifax Port Authority representatives, Minister Ashfield toured the site of the recently completed South End Terminal Expansion project and the construction site of the Richmond Terminals Multipurpose Gateway Improvements project.

Today we take an important step forward as we celebrate investments in the Port of Halifax that will not only improve trade and traffic flows to and from the region's largest deep-water port, but will also benefit the economy by facilitating trade in the Atlantic region as a whole, said Minister Ashfield. Halifax will be able to attract economic opportunities as a result of these improvements to the Port. These projects will improve the competitiveness of the Port by facilitating the movement of international trade through the Atlantic Gateway and Trade Corridor. Strategic infrastructure investments like these are key to our Gateway's success.

The Government of Canada is contributing up to $17.5 million for the South End Container Terminal project, which will allow the Port of Halifax to berth two of the world's largest ships simultaneously, giving it a competitive advantage in international trade. The Government of Canada's contribution of up to $36.5 million to the Richmond Terminals project will upgrade and expand the port's value-added and breakbulk cargo handling services.

Having the right infrastructure is key to being a highly competitive trade gateway, said Karen Oldfield, President and CEO, Halifax Port Authority. These terminal enhancements, co-funded with the Government of Canada, ensure we are able to accommodate future growth of both containerized and breakbulk cargo operations in the Port of Halifax.

The Government of Canada is committed to working with its public and private sector partners to help position the Atlantic Gateway and Trade Corridor as a key entry point into North America.

Under the Gateways and Border Crossings Fund, Canada is investing more than $250 million in transportation infrastructure projects supporting the Atlantic Gateway and Trade Corridor.

Canada's Atlantic Gateway and Trade Corridor is the shortest all-water route between North America's East Coast and markets in Europe and Asia, via the Suez Canal. Double-stack rail service provides a direct link to Chicago in 71 hours, and a two-hour fly zone connects the Atlantic Gateway to Montreal, Toronto, Boston and New York.