On May 6, many members of the city’s business community participated in the ninth Strategic Forum on Transportation. Over 400 participants were gathered for the event. Key players and industry experts took part in the discussion on the sustainable and intelligent development of Greater Montréal’s transportation infrastructure.
The Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport of Canada, and François Bonnardel, Minister of Transport of Quebec, attended the event. The latter took the opportunity to announce the launch of preliminary studies for the extension of the Réseau Express Métropolitain (REM) and the evaluation of a new electric public transit system in Montréal’s east end.
May 6, 2019
400 participants
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Introduction
“Access to markets and fluid movement, as we know, are essential for our economy.”
– Michel Leblanc
President and CEO
Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal
“The government has mandated the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec to undertake studies for the extension of the REM on the North Shore, towards the centre of Laval, as well as on the South Shore. We have also given them the mandate to study the implementation of a new electric public transit system in the east end of Montréal.”
– François Bonnardel
Minister of Transport
Government of Québec
“We will continue to work to increase the capacity of our trade corridors and ensure that the best minds in the world settle here.”
- The Honourable Marc Garneau
Minister of Transport
Government of Canada
Part I – Ensuring competitive infrastructure, freight transport and logistics hubs
Contrecœur terminal: a new logistics hub with strong potential for companies
“Globalization results in growth for maritime trade. In recent years, we have become masters at reinventing ourselves in the same spot. Today, we have to go further.”
– Sylvie Vachon
President and CEO
Montreal Port Authority
A look at a major metropolitan construction project: the Louis-Hippolyte-La Fontaine tunnel
“The Louis-Hippolyte-La Fontaine tunnel is among the busiest trucking links between Montréal and the South Shore, with nearly 13% of all traffic.”
– Alexandre Debs
Director for the Major Rehabilitation of the Louis-Hippolyte-La Fontaine tunnel
Ministère des Transports du Québec
Eastern Canada's competitiveness in freight transportation
– Jon Chiniborch
Director of Supply Chain Sales
CN
“Montréal’s geographical location is unique. While geography is fine, it's how you use it that becomes a competitive advantage.”
- Guillaum Dubreuil
Senior Manager, Government Affairs
Groupe CSL
“It is essential to be complementary, to both maritime and rail transport, in order to offer all logistical solutions and ensure intermodality. It's a strength for Montréal.”
- Jean-Robert Lessard
Vice-President, Corporate Affairs
Groupe Robert
The challenges of modernizing airport infrastructure while maintaining excellent customer service
“Our growth has increased by 38% over the past five years. We are a reflection of what’s happening in Montréal. Economic growth depends on the ability to get around.”
– Pierre Loyer
Vice President, Airport Infrastructure
Aéroports de Montréal
Part II – Public transportation and electrification: structuring projects for the city
Meeting the growing demand for public transit: ARTM's vision
“A 3% increase in the modal share of public transit would represent an additional savings of $76 million for households and a $64 million decrease in congestion costs.”
– Paul Côté
Director General
Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain
The electrification of heavy transport powered by Quebec engineering
“We have the advantage in Quebec of having access to a low-cost energy source. It makes sense to move towards electrification of transport.”
– Yves Provencher
Senior Manager – Business Development
The Lion Electric Co.
Perspectives on the progress of the Réseau express métropolitain
“This 100% electric and automated light metro, with its 26 stations and 20 hours of operation a day over 67 km, is the largest public transit project in Quebec in the last 50 years.”
– Jean-Marc Arbaud
Managing Director
CDPQ Infra
Planning and designing today for the hypermobility of tomorrow
“We are design engineers, builders, and also infrastructure operators. We are in a unique position in that we will integrate technology into the infrastructure we build.”
- Marc Blanchet
Vice-President, South-West Québec Engineering, Design and Project Management Sector
SNC-Lavalin
Part III - Artificial intelligence and innovation in transportation: a look at the industry's future
Getting the most out of infrastructure funding
“It’s important to attract private capital to new infrastructure projects in order to deliver better services, a better quality of life, a better base for economic growth.”
– Pierre Lavallée
President and CEO
Canada Infrastructure Bank
Positioning Quebec and Montréal as leaders in electric and smart transportation
“Quebec should be a business case for companies from all over the world. We have to ensure that there is a framework in place for innovations to be tested and developed here.”
- Michel Leblanc
President and CEO
Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal
“Our climate and our extreme seasons make testing for different types of vehicles very interesting, both for electric vehicles and for autonomous vehicles.”
- Sarah Houde
CEO
Propulsion Québec, cluster for electric and smart transportation
Autonomous vehicles: leaders who are positioning Quebec in the innovation race
“The most important aspect when it comes to autonomous shuttles is social acceptability.”
– Marie Hélène Cloutier
Vice President, Customer Experience, Sales and Marketing
Keolis Canada
– Patrick Lauzière
Vice-President, Technology & Development
Orange Traffic
– Frantz Saintellemy
President and Chief Operating Officer
LeddarTech
AI to optimize supply chains
“If you have an idea, if you think you could integrate artificial intelligence into your operations, don't hesitate. There is financing for you. We're here to help you.”
– Julien Billot
CEO
SCALE AI
Moderated by par Céline Huot, Vice-President, Strategy and Organisational Development at the Chamber.
Taxi drone: a futuristic project or a breakthrough on the cusp of transforming mobility?
“At first, we were told that it was impossible, that a 100% electric vertical flight would not succeed. It has now been done.”
– Mikaël Cardinal
Vice-President, E-Aviation & Business Development
United Therapeutics Corporation
Montréal–Toronto in 40 minutes: the Hyperloop's goal
“It’s as if we were at an altitude of about 50 km. The cabin is pressurized. It's nothing more or less than a plane without wings.”
– Sébastien Gendron
Co-Founder and CEO
TransPod
The Strategic Forum on Transportation was organized by the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal and presented by CN. It was made possible thanks to the invaluable collaboration of our Gold sponsors, the Fonds de solidarité FTQ and SNC-Lavalin; our Silver sponsor, Montreal Gazette; and our Bronze sponsors Aéroports de Montréal, Air Canada, the Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain, the Montreal Port Authority, Transport Magazine and L’Écho du transport..