Marine transportation in Québec is just one aspect of a diversified transport line. It is part of a whole set of economic activities including import, export and domestic movement of goods between shippers and consignees. Apart from freight, this mode includes a passenger transportation component with important marine tourism activities, including international cruises, day cruises, nautical activities, ferry services and services to remote communities.
The activity generated by the marine sector significantly contributes to Québec’s economic development. Québec businesses in the marine and port sectors, including marine tourism, represent sales in excess of 3.1 billion dollars. These companies create more than 18,000 direct and indirect jobs representing annual payroll expenditures of 1 billion dollars. Through these activities, the Québec and Canadian governments earn annual fiscal and parafiscal revenues totalling 204.6 million and 140.7 million dollars, respectively.
Marine transportation also leads to important economic benefits for regions along the St. Lawrence River. Indeed, marine transportation supports key economic sectors in Québec such as paper manufacturers, aluminium works, iron and steel works, grain elevators, container terminal and oil refineries in their supply or shipping operations.
Transhipments in Québec ports represent approximately 110 million tonnes of freight every year. International traffic (exports and imports) represent 75% of the overall traffic in Québec’s commercial ports, and domestic traffic (traffic between Canadian ports and including in this case at least one port in Québec) accounts for the remaining quarter.
As for cruise activities, the St. Lawrence destination sees around 100,000 passengers every year. In 2006, for example, this figure reached close to 112,000 passengers (all ports of call included), the highest number of the last few years. The main cruise ports—Québec and Montréal—saw 65,000 cruise passengers to 86 ports of call and 33,000 passengers to 47 ports of call, respectively. They generated economic benefits in the order of 22 million dollars for the province of Québec. The St. Lawrence Cruise Association estimates that in 2006, each passenger left an average of $183 per day / port of call in direct economic benefits in Québec (compared to $143 in 2003)1. This context seems quite favourable to the development of the international cruise industry in Québec.
Québec’s Strategic Commercial Port System
The strategic commercial port system was established in support of the economic development of the province of Québec and its regions. This system is the result of work done by the Marine Industry Forum. It is composed of 21 strategic commercial ports divided into three categories: national commercial ports (11), complementary commercial ports (4) and local interest ports (6).
This section also covers:
- The Marine industry forum
Chaired jointly by the Minister of Transport and the President of the St. Lawrence Economic Development Council, the Forum oversees the effective and coordinated implementation of the various measures proposed in the Policy.
The Secrétariat au transport maritime et à la mise en valeur du Saint-Laurent of the ministère des Transports du Québec coordinates the Forum’s activities and oversees the action plan adopted by its members. To this end, it collaborates with representatives from a number of marine and government business lines.
- The marine transportation policy
The gouvernement du Québec's commitment to marine transportation took shape in particular in the Marine Transportation Policy adopted by the Conseil des ministres on June 21, 2001. The ministère des Transports was given the responsibility for implementing this Policy.
The gouvernement du Québec's developed this Policy in collaboration with its partners in the public and private sectors. It reflects the concerns of four lines of business (freight, international cruises, day cruises and marine tourism) and deals with issues of importance to Québec’s marine industry.
The Assistance Program for Modal Integration and the Marine Industry Forum are two of the tools developed to aid in the Policy’s implementation and have served as the basis for various actions, in particular those associated with the promotion of the St. Lawrence River and marine transportation and the creation of Québec’s strategic commercial port system.
- The promotion of the St. Lawrence River and marine transportation
The ministère des Transports du Québec has joined Québec’s marine industry in a promotional campaign targeting marine transportation and the St. Lawrence River. This campaign comprises a number of actions aiming to raise awareness of the importance of marine transportation in the day-to-day lives of Quebecers.
One such action is the establishment of a website presenting all aspects of the St. Lawrence River as well as the importance of marine transportation in daily life in Québec. In addition to presenting basic information, the site has links to more specialized websites. This website can be visited at the following address: www.LeSaint-Laurent.com.
Documentation
Documents are presented in PDF format and must be opened using Acrobat Reader.
