Montréal, May 6, 2016 – The seventh edition of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal’s Strategic Forum on Transportation was held today in the presence of The Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport, along with Jacques Daoust, Minister of Transport, Sustainable Mobility and Transport Electrification, and Denis Coderre, Mayor of Montréal and President of the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal. More than 300 Montréal decision makers gathered at the Palais des congrès de Montréal to talk about the future of transportation in Greater Montréal. The new innovations and transportation projects presented this morning will revolutionize the industry by having a major impact on traffic flow and reducing the industry’s environmental footprint. Two major announcements were also made during the event.
The Honourable Marc Garneau announced the upcoming launch of a comprehensive consultation process to discuss the future of transportation in Canada. The consultations, which will begin by the end of the month in Montréal, will bring together experts, organizations, and road users to discuss the following five major themes: trade corridors, environmentally-friendly transport, passengers, navigable waters and the North, and security issues.
For his part, Minister Jacques Daoust announced the launch of a joint pilot project by Mobility Montréal and the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal intended for the city’s large generators of traffic at the dawn of a period of major roadwork. The goal of this pilot project is to recommend concrete actions to alter the commuting habits of workers and students in order to better control the demand for transport and infrastructures during this period. The pilot project is scheduled to launch in the fall.
Exploring new business practices for transportation projects
“The Réseau électrique métropolitain project by CDPQ Infra reminds us how important it is to explore new business models for the development of our transportation infrastructures. Today’s presentations provided an overview of what is being done here and abroad to foster financial support for infrastructures, for models that could increase the competitiveness of our businesses and the efficiency of our modes of travel, whether by car, train, or public transportation,” said Michel Leblanc, President and CEO of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal.
Travelling in the smart city
“The smart city is growing at an impressive rate. The application developed by CargoM to make freight transportation more efficient is a perfect example of this. Moreover, the appearance of the self-driving car in the United States within the next five years will completely overhaul our way of thinking about commuting in Montréal. We must immediately start thinking of adapting our infrastructures and regulations in light of this upcoming revolutionary change. The automation of transportation will revolutionize the car industry as well as the train industry, as evidenced by CDPQ’s project. This is a unique business opportunity for companies that operate in the industrial sector in Montréal as well as public transportation organizations,” said Michel Leblanc.
Innovating to reduce the industry’s environmental footprint
“We must explore new avenues in order to reduce the environmental footprint of our transportation industry to reach objectives set by the 2030 energy policy. The technologies we need to reach these objectives exist and are currently being used in various sectors such as road transport, rail transport, and aviation. We need to develop more eco-friendly transportation options to promote long-term economic development. Montréal’s ecosystem has the means to stand out by seizing the opportunities associated with climate change,” said Michel Leblanc.
The Board of Trade will be very active over the next few months in order to ensure that the conclusions drawn at the forum result in concrete actions. For instance, it will participate in Minister Garneau’s consultation on the future of transportation in the country and will call upon the business community to contribute to the Minister of Transportation’s pilot project intended for large generators of traffic,” concluded Michel Leblanc.
About the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal is made up of over 7,000 members. Its mission is to be the voice of Montréal’s business community and to promote the city’s prosperity. It is involved in key areas of economic development, advocating a philosophy of action based on engagement, credibility, proactivity, collaboration, and innovation. The Board of Trade also offers a range of specialized services to individuals and to businesses of all sizes to support them in their growth at home and abroad.
About the Strategic Forum on Transportation
The seventh edition of the Strategic Forum on Transportation was organized by the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal. It was made possible thanks to CN, the title sponsor, as well as the collaboration of the following GOLD sponsors: Dentons, Fonds de solidarité FTQ, and SNC-Lavalin. The event was also made possible thanks to the contribution of SILVER sponsors Budget Propane and the Montreal Gazette, as well as BRONZE sponsors Le Devoir and Hydro-Québec.
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Source:
Guillaume Bérubé
Advisor, Media Relations
Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
Phone: 514 871-4000, extension 4042
gberube@ccmm.qc.ca
Facebook: www.facebook.com/chambremontreal
Twitter: @chambremontreal
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