The Proponents behind the Melford Container terminal in the Straight of Canso have applied for Federal National Trade Corridor fund the Minister confirmed yesterday. The application is in the late stages of being evaluated. The terminal First proposed in 2008, has an approved environmental assessment, and an approval from the province of Nova Scotia to begin construction by October 2024.
SSA Marine, Melford International Terminal and Cyrus Capital Partners, L.P. have formed a joint venture to build the terminal, with SSA Marine to be the operator.
The 4.7 billion dollar national trade corridors fund has been contributing to projects across the country. The ports on Vancouver ($348.8million), Prince Rupert ($117.4million)received substantial funding for projects. however the three main ports on the east coast have received comparatively little.The Port of Montreal received $43.9million for three projects. the The following are Port related projects on the East Coast funded by the NTCF at Port of Saint John NB ($45million):
- CBSA Container Examination Facility – 2.8million
- West side terminal RO/RO expansion – 21million
- NB Southern railway Upgrades – 21.2million
And in Halifax ($48million):
- CBSA Container examination facility – 7million
- Container terminal optimization – 18million
- Windsor street exchange upgrades – 23million
The three main east coast Ports received only 136.9 million in funding, which is 25% of what BC ports received, and is less then the $150 million ask by the Melford terminal backers who only have projections and a business plan at this point.
The terminal website, http://www.melford-terminal.com/ currently goes to a webhost parking page. You can find the list of NTCF projects that received funding at https://tc.canada.ca/en/programs/funding-programs/national-trade-corridors-fund/projects-funded-national-trade-corridors-fund#wb-auto-4
