Port of Québec consolidates approach to sustainable development

05/29/2013

Québec, May 29, 2013 – The Québec Port Authority (QPA) took an important step in its sustainable development approach today, entrusting the development of a strategy to Johanne Gélinas of the firm Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton. Gélinas has previously held the position of Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development at the federal government and was a commissioner at the Bureau d’audiences publiques sur l’environnement (BAPE) in Quebec.

“Making the Port of Québec a leader in sustainable development was a commitment I made when I took the helm two years ago,” said Mario Girard, President and CEO of the QPA. “We have already taken steps in this direction, such as the establishment of a community relations committee, but now we want to build a structured framework that will be a foundation for our activities. This is the natural evolution of our vision.”

Global approach

The first mission of Johanne Gélinas’s team will be to identify the most pressing sustainable development issues. This approach will include not only an analysis of international best practices implemented by large ports that are leaders in the field, but also consultations with QPA stakeholders to get the most accurate portrait possible and identify potential risks and opportunities.

The portrait will make it possible to set strategic directions for sustainable development, allowing the QPA to prioritize the actions required to position itself as a responsible company. The entire process will be interactive and will involve community stakeholders.

“The QPA has a unique opportunity to grow in the heart of a city beside the St. Lawrence with a remarkable architectural and natural heritage. The relationships that the port has built over the decades have involved numerous important environmental, social and economic actors,” said Gélinas. “Part of our approach is to develop a vision that will strengthen the relationship between the city and the port and put in place the conditions necessary to maintain environmental integrity (environmental safety), social equality (social responsibility) and economic efficiency (sustainable growth).”
 
“I have full confidence in Ms. Gélinas’s expertise, and I think she will make a significant contribution to the Port of Québec becoming a leader among responsible organizations. The deadline for the delivery of the sustainable development strategy is set for the end of 2013, and the entire port community of Québec will be engaged in the approach. Having this kind of strategy is important for the Port of Québec’s future development,” concluded Mario Girard.

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For additional information:

Anick Métivier
Assistant Director, Communications and Public Relations
Québec Port Authority
Phone: 418-648-3640
[email protected]