Project at Fenix Marine Terminal will expand capacity and cargo efficiency, provide environmental benefits, port says.

The project is part of a U.S. plan to secure access to critical minerals such as copper and cobalt in a region where China has been dominant.

Canada's labor board ended a day-long work stoppage after it imposed binding arbitration on the railways and union. 

CN started its return to service on August 23, while CPKC workers returned to the job August 26.

The new deals include a 3.5% yearly wage increase over the next five years, along with more vacation hours earlier in workers' careers.

The Canadian labor minister has asked the federal industrial relations board to impose binding arbitration on the parties.

Canada’s mining sector depends on the country’s two dominant railways to transport heavy materials including copper, aluminum, iron ore and coal.

The tentative agreements include 3.5% yearly wage increases, and improvements to paid vacation and health care.

After months of talks, the increasingly bitter negotiations, regarding working conditions such as shift scheduling and fatigue provisions, ended on the evening of August 21.

The Railway Association of Canada says that more than half of the country's exports are moved by rail, in addition to 70% of its intercity surface freight.