Overview
The multimodal transportation system in Quebec is concentrated around major population centres and along the St. Lawrence River, and is a key contributor to local, interprovincial and international trade flows.
The Region is home to three airports included in the National Airport System (Mirabel International Aerocity Montréal-Trudeau International Airport, and Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport). Apart from the global decrease in air transportation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) passenger traffic has been steadily increasing over the past several decades and remains Canada’s third-largest airport. The province is a major hub of the global aerospace industry as many international organizations (International Civil Aviation Organization, International Air Transport Association and Airports Council International) and national airline companies (e.g. Air Canada and Air Transat) are headquartered in Montreal.
There is a large domestic marine industry due to the St-Lawrence Seaway and Arctic resupply businesses with headquarters in Quebec. Quebec’s network of ports, along the St. Lawrence River and beyond, includes both private and public facilities, including five port authorities. The Port of Montreal with its five container terminals is Canada’s second busiest container port.
The Quebec Region has three Class I railroads (Canadian National, Canadian Pacific and VIA) and three passenger rail operations (VIA Rail, Exo and Amtrack) that operate over approximately 5,300 kilometres of track. Canadian National (CN), the largest rail carrier in the country, has its headquarters in Montreal. There are also stand-alone freight rail corridors connecting iron mines in the Labrador Trough to ports on the north shore of the St. Lawrence.
Transport Canada Presence
Regional Director General, Quebec Region: Joanna Manger
Size: 539
Offices: 10
- Regional Headquarters in Dorval, QC
- 9 offices throughout Québec:
- Alma;
- Gaspé;
- Îles-de-la-Madeleine;
- Kangiqsujuaq;
- Longueuil;
- Montréal;
- Québec;
- Rimouski; and
- Sept-Îles.
Transport Canada owned assets:
- 11 TC owned and operated aerodromes:
- Chevery;
- Eastmain River;
- Havre Saint-Pierre;
- Îles-de-la Madeleine;
- Kuujjuaq;
- Lourdes-de-Blanc-Sablon;
- Natashquan;
- Schefferville;
- Sept-Îles;
- Waskaganish;
- Wemindji.
- 21 ports:
- *Baie-Comeau;
- Baie-Johan-Beetz;
- Blanc-Sablon;
- Cap-aux-Meules;
- Carleton;
- Chandler;
- Harrington Harbour;
- Kegaska;
- La Romaine;
- La Tabatière;
- Les Méchins;
- Miguasha-Ouest;
- Natashquan;
- Pointe-au-Père;
- Portneuf;
- Mont-Louis;
- Old Fort Bay (Vieux-Fort);
- Paspébiac;
- Saint-François (Île d’Orléans);
- Saint-Augustin (Pointe-à-la-Truite); and
- Tête-à-la-Baleine.
* The Baie-Comeau Port is expected to be transferred to the Corporation de gestion du port de Baie-Comeau in the coming months.
Joanna Manger
Regional Director General, Quebec Region