The Canadian Government has committed up to CA$254 million ($180.7 million) to the Saint John trade corridor project in New Brunswick. The project aims to raise annual container throughput at Port pf Saint John to 850,000 to one million TEU.
Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon announced the funding on October 21 through the trade diversification corridors fund. The provincial government is adding CA$116.5 million and project partners are contributing CA$92.5 million, bringing the combined investment to CA$463 million.
Dredging will widen the port's main channel, and the work also includes breakwater improvements and rehabilitation of marine infrastructure. Transport Canada said the work would add at least 30 per cent to the number of high-water tidal periods during which fully loaded vessels can pass at deeper draughts.
The programme also covers expansion of port warehouses and a new 2,787-square-metre Canada Border Services Agency container examination facility.
Other work includes stabilisation of the Bayshore Rail Terminal shoreline, which protects the port's only rail access, and reconstruction of the Simms Corner intersection to separate rail and road traffic.
New Brunswick Southern Railway will upgrade 103 kilometres of track with continuously welded rail. The upgrade targets mainline speeds of 64 km/h and faster freight journeys connecting the port with Class 1 railways.
Premier Susan Holt said work on the projects could begin in spring 2027 and be completed by 2029 or 2030.
Port Saint John completed its CA$247 million West Side modernisation project in January 2026. Terminal operator DP World said that project and its own investment raised container terminal design capacity from 150,000 TEU to up to one million TEU annually.