"Mon environnement, ma santé" report by the Direction de santé publique: THE PORT OF QUÉBEC IS ALREADY COMMITTED TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PUBLIC HEALTH RECOMMENDATIONS

03/13/2023

Québec City, March 13, 2023 – The Port of Québec welcomes the report Mon environnement, ma santé (My Environment, My Health) released today by the Direction de santé publique (DSP) (Public Health Department) of the CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale, which corroborates in large part the conclusions of the report submitted last January by the Groupe de travail sur les contaminants atmosphériques – GTCA (workgroup on airborne contaminants). The scientific work carried out by the DSP, in collaboration with the numerous bodies involved, once again provides the population with a complete and clear picture of the situation and the actions to be taken. The Port reiterates its commitment to work with all partners to improve the air quality in the Limoilou, Vanier, and Lower Town districts of Québec City.

The Port is already fully committed to implementing the few recommendations directed to it in the GTCA's report at the end of January and is recommitting to implement those issued by the DSP today. More specifically, the Port is working on the electrification of its wharves and the use of cleaner energy sources (recommendation 4.3), the greening of its grounds (recommendation 3.3), and the continuous improvement of dust emission prevention measures on the port territory (recommendation 6.3). Specifically around nickel (recommendation 7), the Port of Québec and Glencore are in close communication regarding mitigation measures. The readings taken over the past few months at the Port's air quality monitoring stations clearly show that the measures put in place are working. However, continuous improvement efforts must be pursued, and the Port of Québec is confident that the convincing results of the last few months will be sustained.

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"The Port of Québec is determined to contribute to collective efforts to improve air quality in Québec City and we are already working on several measures and initiatives with our operators and partners, as announced in our 2035 Vision. We want to be a leader in the port community in this regard. The Mon environnement, ma santé report, to which the Port has actively contributed by providing several air quality monitoring stations as well as all of the data from its stations located in the community, is a scientific and serious report that will allow us to push our thinking and our actions even further. We will continue to work with our partners, particularly the City of Québec.”
-    Mario Girard, President and CEO

About Port of Québec
The Port of Québec is among Canada’s five largest ports in terms of tonnage handled and economic spinoffs. It is strategically located to serve North America’s industrial and agricultural heartland. Each year, cargo ships from or to some fifty countries call at the Port of Québec to connect the Great Lakes and Midwestern U.S. markets to the rest of the world. Twenty percent of the port’s territory, which extends from Beauport to the South Shore, is dedicated to recreational activities and tourism.

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Out of respect for the DSP of the Capitale-Nationale, the Port of Québec will not make any further comments, leaving the public presentation of the report to their representatives.

Information: 
Frédéric Lagacé
Communications Director
418 929-5031
[email protected]