North American Marine Highways (2010)

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81 The program began on October 1, 2007, and will run until 2013. The aim of the program is to reduce or avoid greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated by freight transportation. The program has two components: • Component A: Projects with infrastructure expenditure; and • Component B: Projects without infrastructure expenditure. The same project can not receive assistance from both Components A and B. Any project is eligible if it aims to reduce or avoid GHG emissions through the improved integration of transporta- tion modes or the use of rail or marine transportation. Com- panies, municipal organizations, and other legally constituted organizations with a place of business in Quebec are eligible. The applicant must validate the reduction or the avoid- ance of GHG emissions at the time of application through a Canadian Standards Association-recognized organization for the application of ISO 14064 Standard (guidelines for organi- zations regarding quantification and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions and removals). Projects are evaluated according to the following criteria: • Impact on the tonnage of GHG emissions reduced or avoided during the project period; • The project’s long-term viability (potential for reducing GHG emissions beyond the 2006–2012 action plan on climate change reference period); • The project’s economic spin-offs; • Environmental, economic, and social co-benefits (reduction in atmospheric pollutants, decrease in road maintenance costs, road safety, etc.); • Possibility of other viable transport alternatives; • Complementarity with other transportation modes. Projects with Infrastructure Expenditure The financial aid takes the form of a grant. Projects are admissible at all times. Eligible expenses include: • Track construction and preliminary/preparatory works; • Construction, development, or improvement of build- ings, areas, or tanks intended for the handling or storage of cargo; • Acquisition and installation of handling equipment; • Construction, development, or improvement of piers; • Rehabilitation of transport infrastructures; • Lease, purchase, or improvement of rail, marine, or inter- modal transportation material and equipment; • ISO 14064 certification fees. The purchase of land is not eligible. The financial contribution is set at a maximum of $500 per ton of GHG emissions reduced or avoided for the project as a whole. The financial contribution cannot exceed 50% of eligible expenses, up to a maximum of $6 million per project. The proponent’s financial contribution must correspond to at least 33% of eligible expenses associated with the project. The financial contribution is paid in three installments: 1. The first third of the contribution is paid upon produc- tion of the supporting documentation for the eligible expenses. 2. The second third is paid after the first year of operation, following submission of a report certifying the tonnage of GHG emissions reduced or avoided. The program reserves the right to reduce its contribution to the project if the GHG emissions reduced or avoided do not meet the goals set at the project’s outset. 3. The balance of the contribution is paid when a final report is submitted certifying the tonnage of GHG emissions reduced or avoided after the first three years of project oper- ation, or before the end of the fifth year. The Quebec Min- istry of Transport will adjust its contribution in line with the quantity of GHG emissions reduced or avoided. The Ministry of Transport, Québec (MTQ), may increase its contribution if the targets set at the outset are exceeded and there is room in the budget. A P P E N D I X F Quebec Province Assistance Program Aiming to Reduce or Avoid Greenhouse Gas Emissions

If the project receives financial contributions from other Government of Québec departments and agencies in relation to the project’s eligible expenses, these amounts will be deducted from the program’s contribution. If the project receives a financial contribution from the Government of Canada in relation to eligible expenses, the MTQ reserves the right to adjust the program’s contribution. Projects without Infrastructure Expenditure An applicant can obtain financial aid if s/he implements a transportation solution allowing for GHG emissions to be reduced or avoided, even if the applicant does not invest in infrastructure. Dry and liquid bulk freight projects aiming to avoid GHG emissions are not eligible. Eligible projects must be received by the program before March 31 and September 30 of each year. The financial contribution is set at a maximum of $250 per ton of GHG emissions reduced or avoided for the project as a whole. The financial contribution cannot exceed $3 million per project. One-fifth of the financial contribution is paid after each year of operation over a five-year period following submission of a report certifying the tonnage of GHG emis- sions reduced. The MTQ reserves the right to reduce its con- tribution to the project if the quantity of GHG emissions reduced or avoided does not meet the goals set at the project’s outset. The balance of the contribution is paid when the final report is submitted certifying the tonnage of GHG emissions reduced at the end of the fifth year of operation. The program will adjust its contribution in line with the quantity of GHG emissions actually reduced or avoided. If the project receives a financial contribution in relation to eligible expenses from other Government of Québec depart- ments or agencies or from the Government of Canada, the program reserves the right to adjust its contribution. 82