Québec Marine Transportation Policy - Transport - Gouvernement ...

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• Develop and implement an integrated management plan for the drainage basin of the
Saint-Laurent;
• Ensure greater representation by Québec on international decision-making bodies.
We should point out that an integrated management plan for water resources and aquatic
ecosystems in the Saint-Laurent system, including other trans-border basins, will be developed
and implemented. The plan will include objectives that will need to be integrated with other
activities on the Saint-Laurent basin such as recreational boating and commercial navigation.
4.2 The Saint-Laurent as a major asset for regional
development
To meet this objective the gouvernement du Québec will coordinate actions by the ministère des
Transports and its partners in accordance with established plans related to the port network,
industrial and regional development, related maritime services, basic ferry and supply ship services,
and tourism.
4.2.1 Structuring a strategic network of ports for Québec
The transfer of transport responsabilities in general, and those of marine transportation in
particular, by the federal government has led the gouvernement du Québec to examine its own
involvement in this sector. In fact the Canadian government, while retaining its legislative and
regulatory powers with regard to marine transportation, is transferring responsibility for a number
of port infrastructures, with the exception of the five largest ports. It is reducing its financial support
and passing on the management of infrastructures (the St. Lawrence Seaway, for instance) and the
supply of certain services to other bodies. It is increasing its attempts to recover the cost of services
it is still offering. Associated powers are not however transferred along with the responsibilities,
and marine transportation remains almost exclusively under federal jurisdiction.
The challenge
It is obvious that, as a result of federal government withdrawal, marine transportation and the
maintenance of a modern, efficient and adequate network of ports are imperilled. Québec cannot
remain indifferent to this situation. The future of the maritime industry and the preservation of
its infrastructures are at risk. The economic prosperity of the regions with port infrastructures
depends to a large extent on a prosperous shipping industry. Québec will, therefore, take a more
active and leading role in the development of the maritime sector.