PORT OF QUÉBEC APPLAUDS THE QUÉBEC GOVERNMENT’S VISION AND COMMITMENT TO MAKE THE ST. LAWRENCE, ITS MARITIME INDUSTRY AND ITS VALLEY ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL DRIVERS OF SUSTAINABLE PROSPERITY AND INNOVATION IN THE NEXT CENTURY

Québec City, June 18, 2021 – The Québec Port Authority and all its users are delighted with the joint announcement by the Minister for Transport, Chantal Rouleau, and the Minister of Labour, Jean Boulet, personally and firmly endorsed by the Premier of Québec, François Legault. The Port of Québec wishes to highlight the Québec government’s transition from vision to action in the forward-looking and sustainable development of the St. Lawrence. 

The St. Lawrence River is a powerful strategic and geographic asset and one of the most distinctive and promising drivers of wealth creation in Québec but it is still undercontributing to the province’s collective prosperity and modernization. The Québec government’s real commitment to federating and activating all existing assets along the St. Lawrence Valley is in line with the vision of the most innovative countries in the world, which have been able to integrate and strategically plan their development by relying on their access to the oceans and other continents via maritime transport. Today, these mainly European countries are exploiting with smart and effective technologies their maritime strengths and synergies.   

More than ever, the last few months have shown us all how vital, safe, and decisive it has been to rely freely and continuously on our maritime routes to secure our supplies, vital imports, and exports, which fuel prosperity and growth throughout Québec. On a global scale, the maritime industry leads the way in the transportation and exchange of goods with 85% of the world volume. It is an inescapable business reality that is here to stay. 

The Port of Québec applauds the investment of $927 million between now and 2025 to implement the following three guidelines:

1. Provide the St. Lawrence with modern and competitive port infrastructures.
2. Ensure that navigation on the St. Lawrence is efficient and respects ecosystems.
3. Offer maritime communities promising and sustainable development opportunities.

The Port of Québec welcomes these guidelines as well as the following statement by the Québec government: “The Québec government believes that coordinated development of terminals along the river is essential to the short- and medium-term growth of international freight transportation on the St. Lawrence. Such development will make it possible to capitalize on the synergy and complementarity of the projects underway to make the St. Lawrence a top-flight global destination.” 

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“The announcement of this new approach demonstrates the committed will of a government focused on our smart and sustainable prosperity and makes it clear that the St. Lawrence River, its entire maritime industry, and all its human innovation power are now part of Québec’s growth portfolio. The St. Lawrence is how and why Québec came to be, and the government’s strong and eloquent gesture is the best way to enhance its value and do it justice.” Mario Girard, Port of Québec President and CEO

About the Québec Port Authority 
The Québec Port Authority is an autonomous shared governance organization constituted under the Canada Marine Act. The ships that pass through the Port are central to a supply chain that carries approximately $20 billion in goods each year. The Port of Québec is a maritime hub that generates and supports over 13,000 direct and indirect jobs, according to the latest KPMG/SECOR study.

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Source:
Frédéric Lagacé 
Québec Port Authority
418-648-3640
[email protected]