Visibly angry, citizen Marc Morin, who submitted a petition with 8,000 signatures for the maintenance of the crossing in his city, is an identity theft. “The ferry is our identity in Rivière-du-Loup. Would we move the Eiffel Tower to Paris?
According to the mayor, the community has been waiting for this decision from Quebec for a long time. “It’s not the one we wanted to have,” says Mario Bastille.
“We have to roll up our sleeves and keep going! It's a disappointment, especially since we were told it would be a responsible decision. For me, this is not a responsible decision!”
— Mario Bastille, mayor of Rivière-du-Loup
According to the president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of the MRC of Rivière-du-Loup, Claudette Migneault, Quebec takes the local people for suitcases.
“It’s a sad day in the economy of Rivière-du-Loup,” she laments. It is inconceivable that the Quebec government did not take into account the opinions of socio-economic stakeholders who were all positioned in favor of remaining in Rivière-du-Loup.”
In his opinion, Rivière-du-Loup will have to incur a loss of $226 million.
Why not choose a private shipowner?
According to the municipal official, Quebec could have chosen one of the three private shipowners who had responded to the call for interest launched by the Société des traversiers du Québec. “CTMA had solutions. The operations in Rivière-du-Loup did not scare him. It was not accepted. I wish we would have taken the time to try this shipowner. Maybe the others had interesting things to offer too. But we don’t know because we haven’t gotten that far.”
The home port of the Bas-Saint-Laurent-Charlevoix ferry will be in Gros-Cacouna. (Johanne Fournier/Special collaboration)
Marc Morin criticizes the Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Geneviève Guilbault, for being stingy with details on the committee of experts which rejected the offers from the three private shipowners.
“Usually, with Guilbault, we have schoolbags. Today there wasn't one, not even a leaf! Nothing! We don't know who did these studies, where they came from, how they were done, who paid for them. That’s the transparency of the CAQ [Coalition avenir Québec]? We took the citizens for imbeciles and I don’t take that!”
Mayor Bastille also deplores not having had access to these studies. “The community will make official requests, both for calls of interest and for the study of opportunities,” he promises. He also questions the costs of 665 million estimated by Quebec to extend the Rivière-du-Loup quay, considering that the last repair work dates back around fifteen years.
“In 2008-2009, an engineering firm estimated the work at 50 million.”
Silting problem at the port of Gros-Cacouna?
Claudette Migneault wonders why the opinion of the companies which ensure the activities of the port of Cacouna was also not considered.
“The companies that are there don’t want the crossing! What do we say to these companies? If we think we made a good choice with Cacouna, we haven't heard the last of dredging.”
— Claudette Migneault, CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of the MRC of Rivière-du-Loup
She refers here to the consultations of the Office of Public Hearings on the Environment (BAPE), in particular that of December 3, regarding the dredging of the port of Gros-Cacouna requested by the Société portuaire du Bas-Saint-Laurent et de la Gaspésie . “There is a major silting problem in Cacouna and the problem is far from being resolved. Now we are adding sleepers. Where were the environmentalists during this time?
Where was the member for Rivière-du-Loup–Témiscouata?
Claudette Migneault wonders how MP Amélie Dionne represented the interests of the entrepreneurial community.
The mayor adds more. “Some people will have to look in the mirror. Where was our MP? She will make history, but for the wrong reasons. We didn't feel listened to. We've been trying to get figures and access to studies for a long time.”
The head of the Chamber of Commerce also questions Ms. Dionne's announcement regarding the creation of a committee to revitalize the ferry sector in Rivière-du-Loup. “We had a promising project, and it was called the traverse,” says Ms. Migneault.
Mario Bastille indicated that, for the moment, he had no interest in participating in this revitalization committee. “I doubt the authenticity,” he says. But I don't want to make the decision alone because the crossing does not belong to the City of Rivière-du-Loup; she belongs to the middle.”
Meeting requested with the Prime Minister
Ms. Migneault believes that a step back will be necessary. “But we will not give up! We are going to request a meeting with the Prime Minister of Quebec, François Legault, so that he can explain his vision of things when he talks about the sustainability of the regional economy.
“We will pursue the demands and the Quebec government will have to live with the consequences of its choices.”
— Claudette Migneault, CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of the MRC of Rivière-du-Loup
The mayor agrees. “We’re going to take some time out. We're going to think about it during the holiday season and we're going to sit down with the players in the field. We will have cards to play. But we won’t have a ton!”
Mr. Bastille hopes for a meeting with Mr. Legault “so that he can say to his face what the community has not done.”
The municipal representative does not want to let go and believes that Quebec's decision is not an end in itself. In addition, its municipal council adopted a resolution to submit a private bill to the National Assembly. It will then be enough to find a deputy to sponsor this bill, developed in collaboration with the City Registry and Legal Affairs department. Asked about the subject by The SunMinister Guilbault seemed more or less aware of the process.
Questioning of the MRC
Although he refrains from any bias, the prefect of the MRC of Rivière-du-Loup still says he is surprised by the decision. Michel Lagacé believes that it is the environmental studies that will guide the final choice of home port.
He recalled that the creation of an industrial-port zone had been considered at the port of Gros-Cacouna in 2015. “We were told by civil servants and by our deputy at the time, Jean D'Amour, that it was not possible because one more boat in Cacouna was one boat too many. A few years later, what is changing the situation?
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