QUÉBEC CITY, July 8, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ - The Québec Port Authority (hereafter "QPA") is proud to announce that it has received the formal support of the Huron-Wendat Nation (hereafter "the Nation"), through its Grand Chief, Konrad H. Sioui, for the Québec City container terminal project, Laurentia. This is a historic moment for the Port of Québec and the evolution of the project.
In a letter addressed to the President-CEO of the QPA, Mario Girard, and sent to the federal and provincial governments, in particular to the Minister of Transport Canada, the Hon. Marc Garneau, and to the Delegate Minister for Transport Québec, Chantale Rouleau, the Nation highlights the essential scope of the Laurentia project proposed by the Port of Québec. Indeed, the Grand Chief expressed in his letter that this project offers environmental commitments as well as concrete actions for the region and Québec and that it will be able to respond to contemporary issues of the economy and integration through a Huron-Wendat perspective.
A harmonious and collaborative relationship
The Nation and the Port of Québec share a mutually beneficial and respectful relationship. As mentioned in the Nation's letter of support, the Port of Québec is a gateway to international trade and allows Huron-Wendat enterprises to continue the distribution of their products worldwide. Support for the Laurentia project is an inspiration for the real desire of the Port of Québec to reflect on, integrate the Nation's knowledge, and to offer it an active and significant role. A framework agreement to formalize and guide the discussions was developed in 2016 and has since been improved following fruitful collaboration between the Nation and the QPA. The agreement was signed in 2018 by the Grand Chief and Mario Girard.
It should be remembered that in addition to becoming the most ecological and technologically advanced container terminal in North America, the Laurentia deep-water terminal project will position Québec as a hub thanks to the establishment of a new logistics chain that will allow regional businesses as well as those in the North American mid-west to be served. The Laurentia project will mark the entry of the Port of Québec into a new strategic network and world of maritime routes and ports offering containerized freight services. The Laurentia project will allow businesses in Québec and eastern Canada to benefit from major economic advantages, access new markets as well as a new global supply chain by containers, which is experiencing remarkable growth and for which there is a very promising future. This new maritime route is intended to complement what is currently established in Canada and aims at increasing Canadian market shares that would otherwise be gained by American ports.
To learn more, watch the video between the Grand Chief of the Huron-Wendat Nation and the President-CEO of QPA here: https://bit.ly/laurentiaNHW-stf
Quotes
"It is with great pride that the QPA welcomes this support as a strong signal on the merits of this major project along the St. Lawrence. It is a respectful and collaborative relationship that we have with the Huron-Wendat Nation, and it is one that testifies to the confidence that the Nation has in the Port of Québec. We are working hard to build a modern port, one that is open to the world, and which meets the needs and specific requirements of our community and our economy. I would like to warmly thank the Grand Chief, Konrad H. Sioui, for this valuable sign of confidence."
- Mario Girard, President-CEO, Québec Port Authority
"The Huron-Wendat Nation is proud to be able to count on the QPA for listening and their acute sensitivities within the framework of this initiative. As mentioned in the letter addressed to Mr. Girard, we have offered our formal support for the Laurentia project. Our Huron-Wendat enterprises benefit from the activities of the Port of Québec, which is an essential service for our development and our economic aspirations while maintaining respect for our values."
- Konrad H. Sioui, Grand Chief of the Huron-Wendat Nation
About the Huron-Wendat Nation
When the first European explorers arrived in the 16th century, the Huron-Wendat Nation was already occupying the country stretching from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, including the large village of Stadacona, on the site of present-day Quebec City. From time immemorial to the present day, the Huron-Wendat, as fine diplomats, masters of trade and alliances, have always practised hunting, trapping, fishing and agriculture.
About Laurentia
Thanks to a joint $775 million investment by Hutchison Ports, CN, and the Port of Québec, Laurentia will be home to the deepest container terminal on the St. Lawrence with the greenest environmental characteristics in North America. Through this partnership, CN and Hutchison Ports will provide an efficient and integrated service to shippers in the North American mid-west who are trading with the northern European, Mediterranean and Asian regions. It will provide the fastest and most cost-effective access to markets on the North American continent by opening a new maritime highway between Southeast Asia and the Port of Québec starting in 2024.
Creator of 7,000 direct, indirect and spinoff jobs in Canada (equivalent to 1,750 full-time jobs/year) during its construction from 2021 to 2024, and more than 1,000 direct (highly paid), indirect and spinoff jobs in Canada once activity starts, the Laurentia container terminal will increase and secure the supply and export chain for Québec and the rest of the country.
About the Québec Authority
The Québec Port Authority is an independent federal agency established under the Canada Marine Act. Each year, the ships that pass through the Port are at the heart of a logistics chain that carries about $20 billion worth of goods. The Port of Québec facilitates this maritime hub, which generates and supports more than 13,000 direct and indirect jobs, according to the latest KPMG / SECOR study.
Source:
Huron-Wendat Nation
Québec Port Authority
SOURCE Administration portuaire de Québec
Information: Marie-Claude Sioui, Political Attaché and Communications Officer, Huron-Wendat Nation, Tel.: 418-905-0088, [email protected]; Anick Métivier, Director, Community Relations, Québec Port Authority, Tel.: 418-473-8267, [email protected]
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