No go for Laurentia Project

The Government of Canada has denied permission for the Laurentia Project to proceed.

Following a thorough and rigorous environmental assessment, the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada’s Environmental Assessment Report concluded that the Laurentia Project: Port of Quebec Deep-Water Wharf – Beauport Sector was likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects to fish and fish habitat, air quality and human health, socio-economic conditions, and the current use of lands and resources for traditional purposed by Indigenous peoples.

“We are obviously very disappointed by this outcome,” said Port of Québec President and CEO Mario Girard.

“It’s unfortunate that we weren’t able to reconcile our experts’ opinions with those of the experts at Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC), particularly regarding striped bass. We remain convinced that there were workable solutions and that Laurentia was a fundamentally good project, both for the economy and for the environment.”

The project, proposed by the Quebec Port Authority, is an extension to an existing wharf in order to operate a deep-water terminal dedicated to containerized general cargo in the Port of Quebec.

The project also includes the construction of a new berth and a retaining dike that would allow for the development of an additional 17 hectares of backshore space, along with the construction of rail lines and various road accesses.

Since this decision applies to the Laurentia Project, it does not prevent the Quebec Port Authority from submitting new project proposals and does not preclude potential development.

Potential future proposals would be assessed in accordance with the Impact Assessment Act, which came into force in August 2019, said the Government.