• Aim
• Component 1: Projects with Infrastructure Expenditure
• Component 2: Projects without Infrastructure Expenditure
• Component 3 : Pilot projects
• Component 4 : Studies
• Component 5 : Promotion of rail and marine transport
• Additional Information
• Documentation

The Ministère des Transports du Québec has established the Assistance Program Aiming to Reduce or Avoid Greenhouse Gas Emissions (PAREGES). The program intends to reduce or avoid greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by implementing intermodal rail and marine transport projects. This program is consistent with the goals of Measure 8 of the Gouvernement du Québec’s 2006-2012 Climate Change Action Plan: Québec and Climate Change – A Challenge for the Future.

The program ends on March 31, 2013.

The aim of the program is to reduce or avoid GHG emissions generated by the transportation of merchandise and people by implementing intermodal projects and promoting rail and marine transport.

The program consists of five components:

• Component 1: Projects with infrastructure expenditure;
  • 1-A: Projects that cost $1 million or over
  • 1-B: Projects that cost under $1 million
• Component 2: Projects without infrastructure expenditure
• Component 3: Pilot projects
• Component 4: Studies
• Component 5: Promotion of rail and marine transport

Program Eligibility

Any project aiming to reduce or avoid GHG emissions through the improved integration of transport modes or the use of rail or marine transportation.

Companies, municipal organizations and other legally constituted organizations with a place of business in Québec are eligible.

Financial assistance is given in the form of grants. Project applications are accepted at all times.

Eligible Expenses

• Railway construction and infrastructure preparation
• Construction, development or improvement of buildings, areas or reservoirs intended for the transshipment or storage of cargo
• Acquisition and installation of transshipment equipment
• Construction, development or improvement of docks
• Rehabilitation of transport infrastructures.
• Lease, purchase or improvement of rail, marine or intermodal transportation material and equipment
• ISO 14064 certification fees

Component 1-A: Projects that cost $1 M or over

Project applicants interested in Component 1-A of the program must submit a report quantifying the reduction of GHG emissions along with their application, and a report verifying the reduction of GHG emissions in order to obtain the second and third instalments of the subsidy.

Financial assistance

• Financial assistance is set at a maximum of $500 per tonne of GHG emissions reduced or avoided during the entirety of the project. Financial assistance cannot exceed 50% of eligible expenses and is limited to a maximum of $6 million per project.
• The applicant’s financial contribution must cover at least 33% of the project’s eligible expenses.

Component 1-B: Projects that cost under $1 M

Project applicants interested in Component 1-B of the program are not required to submit reports quantifying or verifying the reduction of GHG emissions. However, they must provide the Ministère with all the information necessary to assess the project’s reduction or avoidance of GHGs.

Financial assistance

• Financial assistance from the Ministère and other Gouvernement du Québec departments or organizations is set at 50% of eligible expenses. However, assistance awarded for the program cannot exceed $750 per tonne of GHG emissions reduced or avoided, as assessed by the Ministère.
• The applicant’s financial contribution must cover at least 33% of the project’s eligible expenses.

Applicants not investing in infrastructure may still receive financial assistance if using transport solutions that enable GHG emissions to be reduced or avoided.

Liquid and dry bulk transportation projects that aim to avoid GHG emissions are not eligible.

Eligible projects must be received by the Ministère before March 31 and September 30 of each year.

Financial assistance

• Financial assistance is set at a maximum of $250 per tonne of GHG emissions reduced or avoided during the entirety of the project. It cannot exceed $3 million per project.
• Each instalment of the grant is awarded after every year of operation, over a period of five years, following the submission of an audit report certifying the quantity of GHG emissions reduced or avoided.

Eligible projects

• Pilot projects for short sea shipping
• Pilot projects for rail or intermodal transport
• Pilot projects for new technology applications for freight transportation, handling and storage

The duration of the pilot project cannot exceed three years.

Financial assistance

• Financial assistance is set at a maximum of 50% of the project’s eligible expenses, up to a maximum of $1 million per project per year.
• The applicant’s financial contribution must cover at least 33% of the project’s eligible expenses.

Eligible projects

• Feasibility studies
• Market studies
• Business plans

Financial assistance

• When the dissemination of the study report remains under the applicant’s control, financial assistance may cover up to 20% of the project’s eligible expenses. The applicant’s contribution must cover at least 50% of eligible expenses.
• When the study report is to be made public at the end of the project, financial assistance may cover up to 50% of the project’s eligible expenses. The applicant’s financial contribution must cover at least 25% of eligible expenses.

Eligible projects

• Organization of events
• Production of promotional material

Financial assistance

• Financial assistance is set at a maximum of 50% of the project’s eligible expenses, up to a maximum of $50,000 per project.
• The applicant’s financial contribution must cover at least 33% of the project’s eligible expenses.
• Financial assistance for this component cannot exceed $150,000 per year.

Requests for assistance should be sent to the following address:

• Direction du transport maritime, aérien et ferroviaire
  Ministère des Transports du Québec
  700, boulevard René-Lévesque Est, 24e étage
  Québec, Quebec  G1R 5H1

You may also call the Direction du transport maritime, aérien et ferroviaire at 418 644-2908 (Secrétariat au transport maritime et à la mise en valeur du Saint-Laurent) or at 418 646-6416 (Service du transport ferroviaire).

• Press Release (In French only) (2011-08-17)  (94 Ko)
• Appendix - Assistance Program Aiming to Reduce or Avoid Greenhouse Gas Emissions Through the Implementation of Intermodal Rail and Marine Transport Projects  (37 KB) (in French only)
• Financial Assistance Application Guide  (29 KB) (2011-06-29)
• Grant Application Form  (only the form in French may be submitted)    (127 KB)
• Folder - Assistance Program Aiming to Reduce or Avoid Greenhouse Gas Emissions Through the Implementation of Intermodal Rail and Marine Transport Projects (2011-09)  (660 Ko)