Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
My question is for Mr. Dagenais, from the Montreal Port Authority.
In your speech, you stressed how important the Contrecœur project is to the Port of Montreal. This new Port of Montreal terminal is planned for my riding.
It has been said that it's important the project be environmentally sound. Environment Canada set certain conditions for approving the Contrecœur project. We know that dredging can have a major impact and can greatly disturb fish habitat.
I will read you subsection 3(2) of the Decision Statement issued under section 54 of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012. This is the subsection that deals with fish and fish habitat:
3.2 The Proponent shall perform the dredging required for the construction by using a dredging method or methods with the least impact to reduce emissions of suspended solids in the water column and reduce potential sediment depositions in the aquatic grass beds located downstream from the Designated Project.
We know there are various dredging methods available. There is traditional heavy mechanical dredging that leaves behind high concentrations of suspended solids, but there's also a system that suctions up the soil, and therefore the sediment, instead. This method generates less suspended sediment, and it's used by a Contrecœur local business that could do the work.
Given its obligations, will the Port of Montreal prioritize this dredging method above others?