The Montreal Port Authority (MPA) is turning to a former manager of Transport Canada and the Canadian Coast Guard to take charge. Julie Gascon will become president and CEO of the federal agency on February 12.
The latter is currently the head of the Pacific Pilotage Authority, a crown corporation responsible for navigation in the British Columbia region. Ms. Gascon arrives at the Port of Montreal in a context where there is no shortage of challenges.
The APM has once again returned to the drawing board as part of its expansion project in Contrecœur because it is struggling to convince the private sector to come on board. The Port of Montreal will have to take more risks and assume the entire “water” part of this megaproject whose bill has exploded to 1.4 billion.
The financial package is still not complete. Ottawa will put up 150 million, the Legault government will contribute 130 million, and the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) must also offer 300 million in loans. It is still unclear where the rest of the money will come from.
Geneviève Deschamps has held the interim presidency of the APM since August 21. This game of musical chairs was caused by the departure of former president and CEO Martin Imbleau.
He left his position to take control of the VIA Rail subsidiary which manages the development of the high frequency train (TGF) between Quebec and Toronto. The APM is a federal agency that constructs and maintains port facilities. It is also the company that rents them to stevedoring companies, i.e. maritime carriers. It is not the APM which employs, for example, the longshoremen who are responsible for transshipping the goods. These are hired by the Maritime Employers Association.
