Report - Agence canadienne d'évaluation environnementale

Economic considerations
Opinions of participants
A great deal of participants, including several regional economic organizations and
businesses, stated that the project would result in lower costs for natural gas by
diversifying Quebec’s natural gas supply sources, which would increase the
competitiveness of companies that use it 1 . The Société de développement
économique de Lévis underscored the following: “competitiveness, effectiveness and
stability in energy sources are a major concern for large companies throughout the
world” (DM545, p. 17).
Along the same lines, the Pôle Québec–Chaudière-Appalaches, the Chambre de
commerce de Québec and the Chambre de commerce de Lévis added: “Québec
companies that use natural gas need a secure and competitively-priced access to this
source to produce more, be more competitive, grow and continue to provide and
create jobs” (DM465, p. 26). The Association québécoise du gaz naturel, which
assessed that the project could result in a 5 percent decrease in the price of natural
gas, stated: “building the Rabaska LNG Terminal will provide access to the
international market for this resource at competitive prices, and this new gas supply
source will provide the Québec economy with additional supply” (DM546, p. 3).
Some 2 emphasized that a decrease in the price of natural gas would encourage
consumers to use this energy source instead of electricity, which could be exported
and sold at higher prices, something that would increase profitability for Québec. In
this respect, the Chambre de commerce des entrepreneurs de Québec believed that
this energy should be used more as an economic development lever by establishing
1. Surplus de pièces d’autos usagées inc., DM385; Centre local de développement Robert-Cliche, DM21, p. 2;
Centre local de développement de Beauce-Sartigan, DM23, p. 4; Mr. Pierre Paré, DM83, p. 1; Mr. Éric Linteau,
DM41, p. 1; Centre local de développement de Nouvelle-Beauce, DM42, p. 2; Mr. Jacques Mouchet, DM77, p. 2;
Jeune chambre de commerce de Québec, DM565, p. 3; Conférence régionale des élus de la Chaudière-
Appalaches, DM534, p. 5; Mr. Denis Galipeau, DM104, p. 1 and 2; Mouvement populaire À bon port, DM547,
p. 4 and 5; Groupe Perspective, DM519, p. 2; Mr. Michel Bédard, DM183, p. 1; Chambre de commerce et
d’industrie de L’Amiante, DM187, p. 3; Groupe SINTRA, DM189, p. 2; Cométal inc., DM201, p. 4; J. E. Roy
Plastique inc., DM204, p. 3; Mr. Michel Boissinot, DM217, p. 2; Les entreprises lévisiennes inc., DM351, p. 2;
Mr. Raymond Gagnon, DM238, p. 4; Excavation B. Bilodeau, DM246; Mr. Jacques Beaupré, DM296, p. 4;
LeggettWood, DM318, p. 1 and 2; Extrudex Aluminium, DM321, p. 2; Matelas Dauphin, DM325, p. 4; Chambre
de commerce et d’industrie de Montmagny, DM356, p. 2; Chambre de commerce régionale de Chaudière-
Appalaches, DM357, p. 2; Chambre de commerce de la MRC de Bellechasse, DM359, p. 1; Chambre de
commerce de Saint-Georges, DM391, p. 5; Mr. Louis Duquet, Chambre de commerce de Québec, DT32, p. 38
and 39; Les manufacturiers et exportateurs du Québec, DM588, p. 9; Centre local de développement de la MRC
de Lotbinière, DM595, p. 8; Association régionale du développement économique de la Chaudière-Appalaches,
DM597, p. 5; Mr. François Théberge, DM564, p. 3; Mr. Frédéric Drolet, DM680; Association des constructeurs
de routes et grands travaux du Québec, DM648, p. 7 and 8; Mr. Michel Thompson, DM697, p. 1; Groupe
environnemental Labrie inc., DM188, p. 2; Humijet, DM338, p. 4; Mr. Paul-Émile Carrier, DM400; Solide de
Lévis, DM689, p. 6.
2. Association québécoise du gaz naturel, DM546, p. 3; Mr. Gervais Tremblay, DM115, p. 1; Mr. Éric Blais, DM68;
Mr. Denis Poulin, DM87, p. 2; Mr. Stéphane Côté, DM91, p. 1.
Rabaska Project – Implementation of an LNG Terminal and Related Infrastructure 19