Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, I am fully confident in the ability of Port of Québec representatives to take the action required to ensure that strategic economic activities can continue, and to protect the health of residents of beautiful Quebec City and the environment they live in.
The Port of Québec's tonnage rate for 2011 makes it a leader among port authorities on the St. Lawrence. Nearly 29 million tonnes of goods passed through Quebec City's port authority in 2011, which is an 18% increase over 2010. Quebec City's port and marine activities generate over $786 million in economic spinoffs every year.
The economy is our main priority, but we can protect health and the environment at the same time.