SEPT-ÎLES, June 22, 2011 – As part of the Association of Canadian Port Authorities’ 53rd Annual General Meeting and Conference in Sept-Îles August 6 to 10, 2011, the Port of Sept-Îles and the Association are pleased to announce the attendance of two ministers at the conference opening. They are federal Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and Minister of the Economic Development Agency for the Regions of Quebec, the Honorable Denis Lebel, and Quebec Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife and Minister responsible for the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean region and the Côte-Nord region, Mr. Serge Simard, who on behalf of both governments, will welcome delegates from the four corners of the country.
“It is with much pride that the Sept-Îles Port Authority will be holding this important event which took place here 20 years ago. With the theme “Ports – Linking Natural Resources to Canada’s Prosperity”, we are expecting some 200 guests”, said Mr. Pierre D. Gagnon, President and CEO of the Port of Sept-Îles.
Next August, Canadian port community representatives will be able to witness how important iron and aluminum are to the economic vitality of the Port of Sept-Îles and the entire region. “Right now, we are experiencing an incomparable economic boom. The vibrancy of the Port of Sept-Îles, the close support of the regional economic community, and the contribution of all our business partners have largely been the key to this success. We will therefore be proud to share the growth our region has experienced with the entire Canadian port community,” added Mr. Gagnon.
The event will last four days and will be one of the largest conferences to be held in Sept-Îles in recent years—more than 200 participants from all regions of Canada are expected, in addition to several hundred thousand dollars in economic spinoffs. The annual event is held in a different Canadian port city each year and is a forum for representatives from the Canadian port sector to discuss and develop ideas on topics crucial to the industry, in particular trade corridors such as the St. Lawrence and the Great Lakes, as well as issues surrounding the environment, competitiveness, and trends in cargo transport in the continental and international marine market.
ABOUT THE ASSOCIATION OF CANADIAN PORT AUTHORITIES
The Association of Canadian Port Authorities was founded in 1958 and brings together ports, harbors, and related marine interests into a single national association. The ACPA represents all Canada Port Authorities, various government entities, and companies doing business in the marine sector. The ACPA is the preeminent association for the advocacy and advancement of the Canadian port industry. Each year, Canada’s 17 port authorities handle over $160 billion worth of goods.
ABOUT SEPT-ÎLES PORT AUTHORITY
With a full range of high-performance equipment, the Port of Sept-Îles is North America’s leading iron ore port and will now become Canada’s second largest in terms of annual volume handled, with over 35 million tons. Sept-Îles’s port facilities play a vital and strategic role in the operation of a number of businesses from the region’s primary sector. The port’s annual economic impact is estimated at nearly $1 billion, with some 4,000 direct and indirect jobs. Port activity at the Port of Sept-Îles therefore remains a significant source of wealth creation in Quebec and Canada.