Qubec environmental and marine transportation priorities

1
Québec environmental and marine transportation
priorities

• Great Lakes Commission des Grands Lacs
• Annual meeting
• 4-5 october 2004

2
Québec Water Policy

• 1. Reform of water governance
• 2. Implement the integrated management of the St.
  Lawrence River
• 3. Protect the quality of water and aquatic
  ecosystems
• 4. Continue water clean-up efforts and improve
  management of water services
• 5. Promote water-related recreotourism activities

3
1-Reform of water governance

• Legal framework
• Watershed based management
• Increase knowledge and information about water
• Strengthen Québecs partnerships and
  relationships
• Strenthen Québecs participation in international
  organizations concerned with management of the
  Great LakesSt. Lawrence River Basin
• Council of Great Lakes Governors
• Great Lakes Commission
• International Joint Commission

4
2- Implement the integrated management of the St.
Lawrence River

• Special status for the St. Lawrence River as a
  national heritage to be protected, developed and
  valued
• Integrated management of the St. Lawrence River
• ensure better coordination of our actions on the
  St. Lawrence River
• develop and implement a five-year integrated
  management plan
• Sign a Québec/Canada Agreement on the St.
  Lawrence River

5
2- Implement the integrated management of the St.
Lawrence River

• adaptation to climate change and fluctuation in
  water levels
• protection and restoration of riverbanks,
  littoral zones, floodplains, wetlands
• prevention and control of AIS
• urban, industrial and agricultural clean-up
  efforts
• protection of drinking water sources (quality and
  quantity)
• protection and restore habitats, protect species
  and biodiversity

6
2- Implement the integrated management of the St.
Lawrence River

• Develop network of public access to water,
  beaches, and recreotourism activities
• implement a sustainable navigation strategy
• resource development and exploitation
• knowledge, research and information
• public participation and community envolvement

7
3- Protect the quality of water and aquatic
ecosystems

• Ensure safe, high-quality drinking water
• by modernizing drinking water treatment plants
• by protecting water collection sources
• Protect aquatic ecosystems
• by providing a framework for water withdrawals
  and ensure minimum flows in watercourses for the
  preservation of ecosystems
• by creating aquatic reserves deemed as
  exceptional heritage

8
3- Protect the quality of water and aquatic
ecosystems

• Protect aquatic ecosystems
• by developing a protection plan for banks and
  littoral zones
• by protecting or restoring wildlife habitats
• set criteria for allocating water withdrawal and
  watercourse diversions
• See if we will extend to the whole of Québec
  criteria developed under the Annex
• revise forest management practices

9
4- Continue water clean-up efforts and improve
water services management

• Intensify agricultural clean-up efforts
• Among others, by introducing ecoconditionality in
  financial assistance programs for the
  agricultural sector
• Broaden industrial clean-up efforts
• by applying the Industrial Waste Reduction
  Program to other sectors (IWRP)

10
4-Continue water clean-up efforts and improve
water services management

• Supplement municipal water clean-up efforts
• Management of municipal infrastructures and water
  services

11
5- Promote recreotourism activities

• Expand access to water and promote sportfishing
• Promote water safety and quality of life on lakes
• Promote nautical tourism (boat trails, promotion
  of sites of interest, international cruises)

12
Québec Marine Transportation Policy

• Implementation of the Quebec Marine Transport
  Policy (2001) still going on in 2004-2005!
• Government and maritime partners together in a
  Forum for maritime transport consensus building
• Action plan based on recommendations of 6 working
  groups discussed on September 30th , 2004
• Other working groups at work (education,
  competitiveness and environment)

13
Québec Marine Transportation PolicyStrategy for
action

• Increasing the use of the Saint-Laurent for
  transportation and trade
• Developing cabotage and intermodal transportation
• Supporting greater competitiveness for the
  Saint-Laurent
• Favouring the harmonious management of maritime
  activities in a sustainable development perpective

14
Québec Marine Transportation Policy Strategy for
action

• The Saint-Laurent as a major asset for regional
  development
• Structuring a strategic network of ports for
  Québec
• Increasing the contribution of the shipping
  industry and related services to industrial and
  regional development
• Supporting basic ferry and regular supply
  services
• Promoting the development of tourism on the
  Saint-Laurent

15
Québec Marine Transportation Policy Strategy for
action

• Developing the promotion and the enhancement of
  maritime activities on the Saint-Laurent
• Promoting maritime activities
• Promoting maritime activities and the
  Saint-Laurent
• Supporting the training and expertise of Québecs
  workforce

16
Great Lakes Commission des Grands Lacs

• Strategic plan

17
What successes, and organizational strengths,
should we build upon to address future needs ?

• Convener role of GLC for high quality
  scientifically based information, policy
  development and research
• Credibility of GLC work in advocacy

18
What top three priorities should the Commission
focus on in the near term ?

• Facilitate the sustainable use of water resources
  supporting the States and provinces intiatives in
  their management over water use and diversions of
  Great Lakes St. Lawrence River Basin waters -
  Annex to the Great Lakes Charter is a priority

19
What top three priorities should the Commission
focus on in the near term ?

• Investigate Integrated Watershed based Management
  of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence River Basin
  including community based approaches and
  stakeholder involvement

20
What top three priorities should the Commission
focus on in the near term ?

• Review and develop sustainable use practices that
  can protect environmental resources (water, land
  and air) and that may enhance the commercial and
  recreational value of the Great Lakes- St.
  Lawrence River
• Sustainable Navigation Strategy
• Sustainable Navigation International Portrait