THE PORT OF QUÉBEC RECEIVES A COMMITMENT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A MULTIFUNCTIONAL DEEP-WATER TERMINAL

07/10/2015

Québec, July 10, 2015 – The President and Chief Executive Officer of the Québec Port Authority (QPA), Mario Girard, welcomes the federal government’s financial support for the Beauport 2020 project for a multifunctional deep-water terminal. The federal government’s commitment affirms the need to expand port facilities in Québec. This project will promote economic growth for companies and residents in the region and will significantly contribute to the entire country’s competitiveness at the international level.

“The Port of Québec welcomes the federal government’s support. With the increase in international marine transportation, the expansion of the Panama Canal and massive investment in US ports, the federal government’s support will allow the Port of Québec to offer strategic infrastructure that will increase the competitiveness of the Canadian maritime industry,” said Mr. Girard.

The international marine transportation market is experiencing sustained growth that has been beneficial to the Port of Québec’s activities, thanks in part to the port’s strategic advantage of having 15-metre depth at low tide. Various government actions such as the upcoming Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between Canada and the European Union and the Maritime Strategy will further stimulate maritime transportation. The Port of Québec must now contend with congestion at its docks at peak times and a lack of land available for creating new partnerships. These problems undermine the competitiveness of Canadian ports in relation to US ports. Finally, the Port of Québec must generate sufficient revenue to carry out repairs to its existing infrastructure, which is the oldest in the country.

To face these challenges, the QPA is putting forward a strategic project to develop new port infrastructure. The Beauport 2020 – Phase 1 project is located in the port sector of Beauport.

The project proposes to extend the current wharf line by 610 metres with a depth of 16 metres, create 18.5 hectares of new land, and rebuild and redesign the existing beach. It requires an investment of $190 million.

There are five formal commitments that support the first phase.

• The process will be subject to an environmental assessment process involving public participation. Three sworn independent commissioners who subscribe to ethical values based on equity, impartiality, respect and vigilance will ensure that the environmental assessment is made public and will conduct public hearings to allow citizens to make their views heard.
• Each new project that could be established in this new space must be submitted to an environmental assessment process involving public participation.
• The new terminals will be completely covered.
• The QPA will favour projects that involve intermodality with a small carbon footprint.
• The QPA will ensure the Beauport Bay beach is rebuilt and redesigned

“Today’s announcement equals nothing less than the biggest investment in the Port of Québec since the Beauport sector was built in the 1960s. This sector and its water depth are what has allowed the port to become what it is today: an essential hub for Canadian foreign trade and a unique multimodal transfer point on the St. Lawrence. The project announced today is precisely what is required to ensure the Port of Québec’s future,” concluded Mr. Girard.

By the end of the summer, the QPA will present the expected timeline for the development of the project, which involves creating a commissioners’ office to ensure public consultations are carried out.

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Source:

Marie-Andrée Blanchet
Advisor, Public Relations and Events
Québec Port Authority
Phone: 418-648-3640
[email protected]