The CEO of the Port of Quebec is going to Tokyo

The CEO of the Port of Quebec, Mario Girard, will soon leave the position he has held for 14 years.

The Quebec Port Authority (APQ) announced Wednesday that Mario Girard would become Quebec’s general delegate in Tokyo as of February 17, 2025.

Mr. Girard will replace Chénier La Salle, who has been stationed in Tokyo since June 6, 2022. In 2023, the latter received a salary of $159,307 with an official residence and allowances totaling $9,488.

“I am proud of what we have accomplished. It was an immense privilege for me to hold this position and I loved these years within the maritime community of Quebec and elsewhere in the world,” declared Mario Girard in a press release.

A transformation

“He will have definitely contributed to transforming and modernizing the organization to bring it to a world-class level and above all to make it shine throughout the planet,” added the president of the board of directors, Olga Farman.

Under his reign, the port notably evokes a major transformation of the organization, a vision focused on sustainable development, a recovery of the financial situation but also the development of numerous recreational and tourism areas to make the river more accessible to the community.

The board of directors will put in place a recruitment process to ensure the transition. No names have yet been circulated.

Last month, the Ministry of the Environment (MELCCFP) issued an order to the multinational Glencore to force it to reduce nickel emissions from its facilities located at the port of Quebec.

In 2024

In the spring of 2024, Mario Girard was “firm” towards Glencore and advised that he no longer wanted nickel emission standards to be exceeded. He always had the support of Mayor Bruno Marchand.

A labor dispute has also been going on for more than two years at the port of Quebec. The dispute, however, pits the Société des arrimereurs de Québec against the Longshoremen’s Union, which represents 81 workers.

A Canadian hub for international trade, Quebec is the only port in the province with both a water depth of fifteen meters at low tide and complete intermodal infrastructure.