Arianne in Ottawa to talk about the port with the minister Three hot issues discussed in Ottawa
ANNE-MARIE GRAVEL
Le Quotidien
A regional delegation came out satisfied and reassured at a meeting with the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard. Tuesday, Grald Savard, Prefect of the Fjord-du-Saguenay RCM, Gilbert Simard and Laurent Thibeault, respectively mayors of Saint-Fulgence and Sainte-Rose-du-Nord, as well as Dominique Bouchard and Jean-Sbastien David, Arianne Phosphate, traveled to Ottawa to discuss the presence of striped bass, the availability of icebreakers and the concretization of the Arianne Phosphate wharf with the Minister.
The five interveners received a 45-minute interview with Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Assistant Deputy Minister Philippe Morel.
Denis Lemieux, Liberal MP for Chicoutimi-Le Fjord, also participated in the meeting, which made the interview possible after being approached by Grald Savard.
"It was an interesting meeting, very relevant and reassuring," said Grald Savard as he was on his way home in the evening on Tuesday.
"It was a meeting in solution mode," said Gilbert Simard.
Icebreaker
Three topics that stakeholders felt were of concern for the region were on the agenda.
Last winter, a bauxite vessel going to Rio Tinto's port facilities got stuck for two days in the icy Saguenay because there was no icebreaker available to get it out of its unfortunate position. . "We wanted to make sure that the situation does not repeat itself. The minister assured us that it would not happen again. If there is no icebreaker available, he could rent one or subcontract, "explains Grald Savard.
"He guaranteed us that it did not happen anymore," confirms Gilbert Simard.
Striped Bass
The minister was also reassured about the striped bass, whose presence worried in the region. "He was asked to do as in the Gasp Peninsula and to allow sport fishing, one catch per fisherman, while waiting for the studies to be completed. At this moment, there are plenty of rumors circulating about this fish. By allowing fishing, it could bring down the pressure until the studies we learn more, "said Gilbert Simard.
The Mayor of Saint-Fulgence assures the Minister that this option could be considered.
Wharf at Sainte-Rose-du-Nord
Finally, the group of which Dominique Bouchard, Executive Vice-President and Jean-Sbastien David, Chief Operating Officer of Arianne Phosphate, expressed his desire to see the completion of the Arianne Phosphate wharf project in Sainte-Rose- North. "We explained that it is important for us in the region this project. Like us, the minister wants this done. It is for economic development, always in a context of sustainable development. But everything is a matter of time. These are technical analyzes. If the study is conclusive, we are optimistic that it will come to fruition. He will speak with the Minister of Environment and Climate Change. We have confidence, "says Grald Savard.
"The minister had read the headline of the Beluga Daily. [Editor's note: Journalist Louis Tremblay's article published on October 24 revealed the results of a WSP survey which states that the proliferation of maritime traffic on the Saguenay would have a minimal impact on the beluga whale.] This is a good new, "says the prefect.
The five men took the road towards Saguenay after the meeting. They are waiting for a return from the minister soon.
"The minister said he would come back quickly with answers," confirms Gilbert Simard.
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