The Port of Québec: A Major Economic Player in the Community

01/08/2014

Québec, January 8, 2014 – As part of the reception held for the awarding of the 2014 gold-headed cane to inaugurate the start of a new year at the port, Mario Girard, President & CEO of the Port of Québec, looked back on 2013, presented the outlook for 2014 and reiterated his goal of improving city-port relations.

Two thousand thirteen was an important and busy year for the Québec Port Authority (QPA). We reached new heights with respect to cruise ships, with 103 cruise ship visits and 164,000 visitors. We also saw 27 million tonnes of cargo cross our docks in 2013.

The QPA and its partners invested approximately $55 million in the last year, and we anticipate investing a similar amount in 2014.

The announcement of the Port of Québec’s first sustainable development strategy in 2014 will create an exciting new focus for the port. “This strategy was one of the commitments I made. Since then, we have accomplished a great deal of work to carry it out, and I’m very proud. It will become the cornerstone of all the projects carried out on the Port of Québec’s territory,” said Mr. Girard.

The Port will also work on several major projects that will shape the port territory while helping to improve quality of life in the community and to increase our economic capacity. These projects include the development of an extension of the Promenade Samuel-de-Champlain, renewal of the land-use plan and visual integration of the domes of the wood pellet terminal. The Port of Québec was the setting for more great events in 2013 than ever before.

The QPA proudly collaborated with the Grand Défi Pierre Lavoie, the Image Mill, the Bordeau Wine Festival in Québec City, le Hangar des oubliés, Les Grands Feux Loto-Québec and the Festival de la Nouvelle France.

The port in the heart of the city

Like most of the world’s other major ports in its class, the Port of Québec is located a stones’ throw from vibrant, urban areas that are enjoyed by visitors and tourists.

Today, relations between ports and their communities are increasingly affected by a global phenomenon. It can be described as aiming to have users maximize port infrastructure to ensure optimal returns, while recognizing the demand for occupancy and use of the riverside and urban territory.

“In the face of this phenomenon, the goal of the QPA is to develop the Port of Québec in sync with city-port relations. To do so, we will work collaboratively with the public and the City of Québec. By working together, we can meet this challenge,” said Mr. Girard. The Port of Québec brings significant economic benefits to the Québec region, with some $25 billion in cargo crossing its docks each year. The cruise ship sector brings in $25 million for the city of Québec. Each commercial ship docked at the port injects an average of $600,000 into the economy, primarily in the Québec region. Finally, the port plays the role of a maritime hub, creating 5,000 direct and indirect jobs in the Québec region according to the most recent study by SECOR.

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For additional information

Anick Métivier
Assistant Director, Sustainable Development and Community Relations
Québec Port Authority
Tel.: 418-648-3640
[email protected]