WASHINGTON: Opportunities New Brunswick Minister Rick Doucet said he is confident the Port of Saint John will get the money it needs for a $205-million container terminal upgrade.
In separate funding announcements weeks apart last summer, the former Conservative government of Stephen Harper and the Brian Gallant’s provincial government each announced $68.3 million for an expansion of the port’s west side facilities. But questions have since come to light about whether the federal government’s portion of the funding was actually secured.
It’s currently listed as a funding consideration in the final stages of a project review, Doucet said Thursday in an interview on Information Morning Saint John. Doucet, who is a Saint John-area MLA, said “due diligence is still underway,” but noted the project’s fate looks promising. “At this point, after having some talks with our folks, and I know the discussions taking place with [Saint John MP] Wayne Long, it’ll come through at some point in time,” Doucet said.
“I’m not sure when, but I would say in time for the folks to get at the job.” The port proposal would see the Rodney and Navy Island terminals on the city’s west side consolidated and upgraded to be able to accommodate larger vessels, as well as an increase in container traffic. The project is expected to break ground in 2017.
