Thank you, Mr. Lavoie.
First, it's worth remembering that if the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence corridor were a united economy—in other words, Canada and the United States together—it would be the third-largest economy in the world. As a result, that logistical flow is extremely important. Given the current geopolitical situation, we need to continue to invest in this infrastructure, and the marine component is at the heart of all this. As I explained earlier, 80% of the goods consumed, used or handled are transported by ship, so that supply chain is critical.
During the COVID‑19 pandemic, which was not the best time of our collective lives, it was basically the marine transportation sector that kept the country going. It didn't stop a single day during the pandemic, because it was an absolutely essential service for getting goods to Canadians.
We currently have a number of projects at QSL. Earlier, I mentioned the project in Belledune and the offshore wind project in Nova Scotia. What's more, in November 2023, we made a request for a customs clearance centre in Quebec City so that containers could be cleared through customs. The Port of Québec is the last deep-sea port, so this would allow larger vessels to come and unload here in Quebec City. It would also lighten the ships that have to continue to go to Montreal, which is a hub for moving products to the Toronto region or to the American Midwest. The marine sector is therefore at the heart of our country's economic sovereignty.