Feds announce $5.5M to dredge Wellington slip at Hamilton port

Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority will receive over $5 million from the government for expansion plans to increase the port of Hamilton'sefficiency.

The Pier 10 Export Expansion project is tackling restrictions that limit theability of port tenantsto export their goods overseas. The project will cost $16 million in total.

The two large construction projects include changes to the Wellington slip and a new covered storage facility for bulk dry products, like sugar and grain.

Crews will rebuild the east dock wall of Pier 10 and dredge the Wellington slip to allow for more space for seaway vessels.

The storage facility will be built where Soletanche Bachy Canada, a pile driving manufacturer, currently stands. It will be moved off to a new space on Pier 15. Ian Hamilton, President and CEO of Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority,said that this change will allow for the storage ofmore product.

Hamilton also noted that moving Soletanche Bachywould eliminate "the primary source of manufacturing noise from the more residential area of the port."

According to HOPA, bothchanges willcut down the amount of trucks on the roads by "thousands."

Liberalfunding announcements 'drops in the bucket' says NDP

On Wednesday, Minister of Seniors and MP for Hamilton West-Ancaster-DundasFilomena Tassi announced thatthe money will come from Transport Canada's National Trade Corridors Fund, which funds infrastructure projects.

"We are supporting projects to efficiently move goods to market, to stimulate growth, create quality middle-class jobs, and ensure that Canada's transportation networks remain competitive," she said.

Tassi attributed the change in efficiency toreducedharbour congestionand wait times.She also expects that 110 construction jobs will be created for the project.

NDP candidates are calling outthe Liberal government for the timeliness of this funding announcement.

"They need real solutions not just drops in the bucket around an election," said NDP candidate for Hamilton Centre, Matthew Green.

It was also noted that the Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority merger had been completed.