Good morning. My name is Patrick Robitaille, and I am the vice president of Port Business Development with the Québec Port Authority. I am accompanied by Alain Sans Cartier, director of Public Affairs and Communications, also with the Québec Port Authority.
It is my turn to welcome you and thank you for being here in Québec to allow us to discuss the important issue of the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement.
The Port of Québec plays a vital role for Canadian and North American industries through its unique combination of comparative advantages. Its water depth of 15 m at low tide, its complete intermodal connections and its strategic geographical location are assets that are unmatched along the St. Lawrence and in eastern Canada.
These advantages give the port a character that is unique in Canada and make it a fundamental link between the industrial and agricultural heart of North America and the rest of the world. Each year, the port has exchanges for our goods with 200 to 300 ports in around 50 to 60 countries. Since Québec is the only deep-water harbour in eastern Canada to be able to carry out these operations, it is mainly competing with ports on the U.S. east coast and in the Gulf of Mexico.
As one of five major Canadian ports, the Port of Québec generates wealth not only for the Québec community, but also for the entire country. At the community level, Québec's maritime activities generate nearly 8,000 direct and indirect jobs and $730 million in economic benefits annually.
At the Canadian level, KPMG estimates that Québec's port and maritime industry generates over 13,000 jobs and $1.3 billion in economic benefits. The Port of Québec works in the transport, petrochemicals, steel, energy and agri-food industries, and focuses on solid and liquid bulk transhipment.
It plays a unique role in the supply chain of several Canadian exports. For example, nickel extracted from the Raglan mine in northern Canada passes through the Port of Québec by ship, is sent by rail to Sudbury for primary processing, and returns to Québec before being shipped to its final destination in Norway.
Ontario-produced wood pellets are transported by rail to the Port of Québec before being transported by ship to the UK to supply thermal power plants. They are replacing coal, among other things.
On the import side, the Port of Québec is also essential for the transportation of jet fuel, which comes from Europe, and elsewhere, to Quebec City by ship before being transported by rail to the Toronto Pearson Airport.
With a relatively small domestic market, the Port of Québec must rely on its role as a transhipment facility for Canadian and North American imports and exports. Given this fact, the major trade agreements signed by Canada over the years have certainly contributed to the port's development and allowed it to fulfill its mission.
The Port of Québec must be able to count on a business environment favourable to international trade, since most of our operations are related to export or import with 50 to 60 countries, as I mentioned a little earlier.
Our current volume of trade with the countries joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership is already very considerable. In the last 10 years, 50 million tons transited through our docks to or from these countries, for a total value of $22 billion. Even omitting our American partner, the figures remain impressive, with just under three million tons and an average annual value of $300 million. Singapore, Mexico and Chile account for 87% of non-U.S. transit volume.
Finally, our trade with the signatory countries centres around the transport, petrochemical, energy and steel industries, with 62% import and 38% export. In addition, the new Panama Canal, which is open or will be shortly, allows passage for ships with a draft of 15 m—previously limited to 12 m. It will doubtless expand trade potential from the Pacific for ports with access to the Atlantic, like the Port of Québec.
In this perspective, the Québec Port Authority wants the Canadian government to ratify the Trans-Pacific Partnership to strengthen and diversify international trade opportunities. International trade agreements ratified by Canada have always had a positive impact on the port's development, since it is first and foremost an international port. Ratifying the Trans-Pacific Partnership will definitely strengthen and diversify our international trade opportunities.
On behalf of the Québec Port Authority, we thank you for giving us the opportunity to present the Port of Québec and our thoughts on the Trans-Pacific Partnership. We would also like to reiterate the willingness of Québec's port community to play a key role in the development of Canada's international trade.
Thank you.