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CANADIAN INDUSTRY ONLINE - FEBRUARY/MARCH 2014
Not only is the Port critical to
international competitiveness for
Canada, but it also sets the bar for sus-
tainability both in existing operations
and in construction of the expanded
terminal. The Port of Sept-Îles is one
of the founding members of the Green
Marine Alliance, and all of its users are
members: it is the first North American
port to have achieved this milestone.
Green Marine is a joint Canada-U.S.
initiative aimed at implementing a ma-
rine industry environmental program
throughout North America, founded
in 2007. The initiative is known for
“
challenging participant companies
to improve their environmental per-
formance beyond regulatory compli-
ance,” says the organization’s website.
“
Sustainability is a pillar of our
development. When you’re building
infrastructure you have to balance en-
vironmental considerations and com-
munity impacts. We have been really
proactive on that matter and all of our
partners all have the same vision. We
have developed sustainability within
our operations for the future of the
port and the future of our ecosystem,”
Gagnon beams.
LOCAL ECONOMIC GROWTH
When it comes to growth, there
is no doubt that the expansion of the
Port has far-reaching effects on the
local economy. “This new dock and
expansion of our existing facilities are
all beneficial for the community,” Ga-
gnon says. The Sept-Îles Port author-
ity estimates it was able to create 800
jobs during the two-year construction
phase of the expansion. Additionally,
according to reports: “between 150 and
200
new jobs will be created locally
for various rail transport, storage, and
port handling activities. There will also
be 2,500 to 3,000 new jobs that are di-
rectly related to the implementation of
the new terminal and associated with
the booming iron market that northern
Québec and Labrador is experiencing
with the arrival of many new mining
companies.”
The port expansion has also of-
fered opportunities to local contractors
that have been extremely beneficial.
And when it comes to future economic
sustainability, there will be further
benefits locally as the port increases its
trading volume.
“
If you want your economy to be
strong you need infrastructure. And
the multi-user wharf is a good exam-
ple of what this type of alliance model
can do for the Canadian economy: we
can create so much value through part-
nership,” Gagnon comments.
With an annual economic impact
estimated at nearly $1 billion, the Port
of Sept-Îles will be one of Quebec’s
most important wealth creators go-
ing forward, and the expansion will
deliver impacts that will undoubtedly
change the course of international
trade Canada.
THE PORT OF SEPT-ÎLES
