BEAUPORT CONTAINER TERMINAL PROJECT : QUÉBEC PORT AUTHORITY ACKNOWLEDGES IMPACT ASSESSMENT AGENCY OF CANADA DECISION

Québec City, August 10, 2026 — The Québec Port Authority acknowledges today’s decision by the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada regarding the request to designate the container terminal project in the Beauport sector, which is led by QSL.

Following an analysis, the Agency has confirmed that the Québec Port Authority is the competent authority to oversee the environmental assessment in accordance with the Impact Assessment Act. As such, the Impact Assessment and Mitigation Process (IAMP) will determine the extent of the environmental impacts and, consequently, whether the project can proceed and under what specific conditions.

Over the coming weeks, the Québec Port Authority will establish the details of this process, including the timeline and the procedures for public and stakeholder participation. The Port Authority intends to make information available in a clear, accessible manner throughout the entire process, primarily through its Je Participe platform (jeparticipe.portquebec.ca).

Like the 16 other Canada port authorities established under the Canada Marine Act, the Québec Port Authority is considered a federal authority under the Impact Assessment Act. As such, it is responsible for ensuring that projects on its territory do not result in significant adverse environmental effects.

To that end, the IAMP calls for an environmental impact assessment to be performed by an independent firm, mandated by the project proponent, as well as an independent review by a second external firm chosen by the Port Authority. 

The Québec Port Authority notes that this decision does not constitute approval of the project. Once the proponent officially files the project, it will need to go through the entire IAMP before a decision can be made.

As stated in the Impact Assessment Act, projects may only proceed if it can be proven that they are not likely to result in significant adverse environmental effects.

The Port Authority will continue its dialogue with stakeholders and will keep the public informed and involved throughout the entire process.

The Port of Québec has a 15-metre water depth and is strategically located in the heart of the Great Lakes market, allowing Canadian businesses to maximize their economies of scale for their imports and exports.

It has links to more than 40 countries and supports nearly 12,000 jobs nationwide. It also handles over 26 million tonnes of goods annually, representing more than $15 billion in commercial value. It ranks 4^th among Canada’s 17 port authorities in terms of revenue and is recognized as a leading cruise port on the St. Lawrence.

The Port of Québec also has a solid reputation for community support and proudly makes 26% of its property available to the public at exceptional sites like the Agora, the Oasis, La Cale, and the Baie de Beauport.

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Geneviève Richard 

Senior Communications Advisor

418 952 6352 | [email protected]