As part of our Contrecoeur port expansion project, we went through the process before Bill C‑5 was passed. I think it took us six to seven years to complete the process.
Consultations with first nations began upstream of the project and have always been part of Port of Montreal operations. The important thing is that the annual consultation be rigorous, that it be an obligation for the port authority, but also that it involve a continuity in following up on files concerning the port's activities in which first nations are indirectly or directly involved.
In the permit application process, there are consultations, but in the port administration process, there is also an annual consultation and follow-up of not only environmental, but also financial or technical issues, in terms of the port's operation and activities. It's a matter of understanding the ecosystem and, above all, understanding the port model and port traffic. You know, ports handle rivers and water intakes that affect the territories of indigenous peoples. There's a lot of transparency required and explanations to be given on the increase in volume and on how the flow is increasing and impacting their environment.