We’kopekitk inland port near Truro would be first of its kind in Atlantic Canada

HALIFAX, N.S. — It will be a first of its kind for Atlantic Canada — an inland rail yard with a container terminal, warehouses and distribution centre.

Announced at a press conference in Halifax on Monday, the We’kopekitk Inland Terminal planned for Onslow is also precedent-setting because of the equity partnership with Millbrook First Nation. 

“The We’kopekitk Inland Shipping Terminal is going to create generational economic change for our community” said Millbrook First Nation Chief Bob Gloade in a video message.

It’s projected to cost $100 million and is planned for a property that is more than three kilometres long, running along the Trans-Canada Highway.

Economic and employment driver for Millbrook

Years ago, Millbrook partnered with Town Centre Properties to purchase the land to build a 2,300-acre industrial development park. The inland port will be located inside ScotiaPort.

Millbrook is an equity partner for the commercial park and also a 50-50 partner for the rail terminal with Canadian Rail Equipment Works and Services (CREWS).

Claire Marshall, executive director of Millbrook First Nation, said all of the revenue from the partnership with ScotiaPort and the terminal will go toward contributing to Millbrook’s infrastructure, housing and social services.

“Millbrook is keenly interested in the employment opportunities and the contract opportunities that will be available for Millbrook First Nation members and also we have a number of contractors that will be seeking bids for these opportunities,” Marshall said.

Beyond the construction contracts, the inland port is expected to employ around 300 people. The concept is based on CREWS’ Johnstown facility near the American border in Ontario which has capacity up to 1,000 railcars.

Will divert transport trucks from downtown Halifax

Anyone living or driving downtown knows the headaches of being stuck behind bulky transport trucks.

Lower Water Street, Hollis Street, and Barrington Street are the direct routes linking the South End Container Terminal to the MacKay Bridge, and Highway 111. 

According to a recent HRM report looking at the quality of life around downtown truck routes, an average of 500 trucks a day travel on Lower Water Street, making up between eight to 20 per cent of the daytime traffic.

Adding an inland port will divert many of these trucks, said Capt. Allan Gray, president and CEO of Halifax Port Authority.

“If we can move more cargo by rail out to somewhere as far as Truro, a lot of the trucks are going through to Cape Breton or to P.E.I., places like that, if we can move more out by rail, then we reduce the number of trucks that are going out through the downtown core,” he said. “That’s a big win.”

He added that the inland port would be more energy-efficient and would reduce emissions.

It’s also a far better investment to improve the supply chain over spending money on building additional berths or terminals, Gray said.

Next steps and timeline

It’s not just needed in Nova Scotia, it’s needed all throughout Atlantic Canada, said Clayton Jones, CREWS president and CEO.

“Bolstering the supply chain is going to be key to the future of resilience and efficiency of the supply chain,” he said.

They will start with site investigation studies in 2024 and develop more detailed designs. They hope to break ground in 2024, Jones said, and hope to complete it in 2025 to some degree, with a full build up in three to five years.

“It’s an ideal site because it’s a property undeveloped, unaffronted by crossings with a rail siding, with rail access and highway access. Those are some of the key characteristics we’re looking for in properties to develop for this type of project.”

A traditional trading place

In Mi’kmaw, We’kopekitk means “the end of the water’s flow,” because it is an area of Cobequid Bay that feeds the Shubenacadie and Salmon Rivers (We’kopekitk was later phonetically anglicized to Cobequid).

“This area has been a traditional trade and transportation route for our people for thousands of years and today it will continue,” said Gloade.