Finance committee  Actions speak louder than words. I can give you an example. The Port of Quebec became involved in an extensive process that was supposed to provide it with environmental certification thanks to the adoption of a sustainable development plan. Its representatives told to trust the

Finance committee  The fugitive particle problem—and that is really what's at issue here—applies to all ports and even to the mining industry. Methods used to contain those particles are well documented. In the case of silos, we think that the main measures were taken because the substance reacts t

Finance committee  There are a number of elements to consider. When the October 26 incident took place, I was told that, since the port came under federal jurisdiction, nothing could be done. I called the federal authority, and I was told that the air contamination at my home clearly came under pr

Finance committee  Our citizens' initiative is not about being against something. All we want is a healthier urban environment.

Finance committee  Actually, when you look at all the ports, we are mainly focusing on the bulk industries, which are known as being very space-consuming. That's not really a value-added activity if we compare it to ship building, for instance. If you look at the jobs at the port of Quebec, most

Finance committee  No, no. We've said, I would say a million times, that our goal is not to shut down the port. We believe that things like recreation and port operations can all be parts of a community, but we want the port of Quebec to maintain.... Actually, we are the greatest supporters of the

Finance committee  Yes, but the process—

Finance committee  Actually, the numbers that are given by the port are always very high.

Finance committee  They could bring a lot more wealth to our community.

Finance committee  We think that a process where the industry—which is the promoter—defines rules, handles the process and ultimately gives its approval does not meet the transparency criteria for projects that will have such an impact on the community.

Finance committee  We have instead documented the impact of port activities. As for jurisdictions, I would like to have much more time and be able to dedicate myself to those issues full time, but I have a job. I am probably the only person here who is not paid to participate in this meeting. Howe

Finance committee  Ultimately, I would like the members of the committee to realize.... Maybe this is not the time, but I think you have very few occasions on which to hear from real citizens who come to speak just for themselves and just to bring you a concern that maybe authorities or professors

Finance committee  I'm here as the spokesperson of l'Initiative citoyenne de vigilance du Port de Québec, but l'Initiative citoyenne du Port de Québec is not chartered. We are just citizens who have gathered together to fight an aggression that we have every day in our community.

Finance committee  We aren't the only ones in this situation. Many citizens across the country are in the same boat. I will use an analogy. It is as though someone owned a building and, because they owned many buildings, decided for the sake of efficiency, to hand over the operation of that build

Finance committee  Go ahead.