Sector
Port and terminal projects: status, trades and pay
Updated September 27, 2026
The new container terminal at Contrecœur, Québec, is under construction. Roberts Bank Terminal 2 in Delta, B.C., is waiting for final permits. The Grays Bay Road and Port in Nunavut was under assessment as of September 14, 2026. The table below gives the dates.
The Major Projects Office says the Contrecoeur project will support up to 8,000 direct and indirect jobs during construction. Roberts Bank Terminal 2, in Delta, British Columbia. The project was still waiting for final permits on August 28, 2026, according to the Major Projects Office. For job postings, check the careers pages of the companies named on this page.
Does Werko track job postings for these projects?
Werko does not track job postings for port and terminal projects in Canada yet.
Which contractors are involved
At Contrecoeur, the Port of Montreal gave the in-water works contract to the CTCGP consortium, made up of Pomerleau and Aecon. On July 17, 2026, FlatironDragados announced TerraMarine as the port authority’s preferred choice for the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 landmass and wharf work. It said TerraMarine was expected to sign a design and early works agreement in the third quarter of 2026. TerraMarine is a joint venture led by FlatironDragados that includes Aecon and Van Oord.
Where each project stands
| Project | Status |
|---|---|
| Contrecoeur Container Terminal Project, in Contrecœur, Quebec.[5] | The construction start was announced on April 9, 2026. The in-water construction start was announced on August 14, 2026[1] |
| Roberts Bank Terminal 2, in Delta, British Columbia.[5] | The project was still waiting for final permits on August 28, 2026, according to the Major Projects Office[2] |
| Grays Bay Road and Port, in the Kitikmeot Region, Nunavut.[5] | The Major Projects Office page, modified September 14, 2026, says the Nunavut Impact Review Board is assessing the project. The Impact Statement was submitted on March 1, 2026[3] |
Typical port and terminal trades
| Trade | Typical work for this project type |
|---|---|
| Heavy Equipment Operator (Excavator) | Excavators dig foundations, trenches, and shoreline works at terminals. |
| Carpenter | Wharf decks and caissons need concrete formwork. |
| Construction Craft Worker | Construction craft workers handle site preparation, concrete support, and material handling. |
| Ironworker (Reinforcing) | Reinforced concrete needs rebar placed and tied by reinforcing ironworkers. |
| Concrete Finisher | Wharf decks and container yards need concrete placement and finishing. |
| Welder | Steel piles, sheet pile walls, and fenders need field welding. |
| Ironworker (Structural/Ornamental) | Erects terminal steelwork and cargo equipment supports. |
| Mobile Crane Operator | Piles, precast units, and equipment need crane lifts. |
| Construction Electrician | Terminal buildings, yard lighting, and shore power need construction electricians. |
| Industrial Mechanic (Millwright) | Conveyors, ship loaders, and cargo handling machinery need millwright installation. |
| Industrial Electrician | Cargo cranes and handling systems need industrial electrical work. |
These trades are typical for port terminal builds. They are not jobs posted by any one project.
Tickets you need in Québec
To work in the Québec construction industry covered by Act R-20, you need a competency certificate. There are three types:
An apprentice certificate, for people apprenticing in a trade.
A journeyman certificate, for people who are qualified in a construction trade.
An occupation certificate, for labourers and specialized labourers.
The Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ) also recognizes some trade qualification certificates. Québec’s labour ministry (MTESS) issues them.
Sources6
Tickets you need in B.C.
To work in one of B.C.’s seven compulsory trades, you need one of these:
A journeyperson certificate.
A Trade Qualifier or Uncertified Experienced Worker designation from SkilledTradesBC.
A registered apprenticeship, working under a certified journeyperson or a designated Uncertified Experienced Worker.
Your certificate must cover the compulsory trade you will work in. A Certificate of Qualification from another province or territory counts, and so does an Interprovincial Red Seal. You are exempt while in a SkilledTradesBC-recognized training program that includes work experience.
Sources7
Pay for two trades in B.C.
Hourly · British Columbia · Data from 2023 to 2024 · Dated November 19, 2025
How many jobs construction could support
The Major Projects Office says Contrecoeur will support up to 8,000 jobs during construction. That count includes direct and indirect jobs. In 2023, the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada expected Roberts Bank Terminal 2 to create hundreds of construction jobs.
What comes next at Contrecoeur
The in-water phase includes the working jetty, the terminal wharf and related marine infrastructure. Dredging is expected to begin in 2027.
Sources1
What Grays Bay would build
The Grays Bay project is a proposed all-season road of about 230 km. It would run from the Nunavut border to a deepwater port and airfield at Grays Bay on the Arctic Ocean.
Sources3
Who runs each project
The Montreal Port Authority is behind the Contrecoeur project. The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority proposes to build and run Roberts Bank Terminal 2. West Kitikmeot Resources Corporation is behind the proposed Grays Bay Road and Port. It is a partnership between the Kitikmeot Inuit Association and private investors.
Sources
- Contrecoeur Container Terminal Project
Privy Council Office, Major Projects Office. Retrieved September 26, 2026
- Roberts Bank Terminal 2 (RBT2)
Major Projects Office, Privy Council Office, Government of Canada. Retrieved September 15, 2026
- Grays Bay Road and Port
Privy Council Office, Major Projects Office. Retrieved September 26, 2026
- FlatironDragados-Led Joint Venture Selected for Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project
FlatironDragados. Retrieved September 15, 2026
- Projects referred to the MPO
Privy Council Office, Major Projects Office. Retrieved September 15, 2026
- Competency Certificates
Commission de la construction du Québec. Retrieved September 26, 2026
- The 7 Compulsory Trades
SkilledTradesBC. Retrieved September 15, 2026
- Wages Welder in British Columbia
Job Bank (Employment and Social Development Canada). Retrieved September 15, 2026
- Wages Construction Electrician in British Columbia
Job Bank (Employment and Social Development Canada). Retrieved September 15, 2026
- Government of Canada Approves Key Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project in British Columbia, subject to strict conditions to protect the local environment
Impact Assessment Agency of Canada. Retrieved September 15, 2026
- Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project
Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (Canadian Impact Assessment Registry). Retrieved September 15, 2026