Introduction

The very first Forum on the St. Lawrence was held in Quebec City on March 27, 2012, providing all stakeholders with St. Lawrence interests a place to discuss and collaborate. Organized by the governments that signed the St. Lawrence Action Plan 2011–2026 (SLAP), this meeting was one of the mechanisms for implementing the integrated management of the St. Lawrence (IMSL).

The SLAP is a 15-year agreement between the governments of Canada and Quebec designed to conserve and enhance the St. Lawrence and implement the IMSL. This agreement demonstrates the need for more integrated and participatory management of the ecosystem. It thus renews the two governments' commitments to foster concertation among all stakeholders on priority challenges faced by the St. Lawrence.

The IMSL will be implemented regionally through regional round tables and across the entire St. Lawrence through the Forum on the St. Lawrence, an annual meeting that brings together both government and non-government representatives with responsibilities or interests related to the management of resources and uses of the St. Lawrence.

The main objectives of the Forum are to provide a place where all stakeholders can work together, where cross-cutting issues can be addressed, and where information, ideas and solutions associated with these issues can be shared. These discussions may, as needed, give rise to advice for the SLAP Steering Committee to focus on particular problems. The specific objectives of the March 27 Forum were to establish initial contact between St. Lawrence stakeholders, convey a certain amount of basic information on the SLAP and IMSL, and look at the future and priority issues to be addressed during subsequent forums.

The organizing committee for this first Forum comprised representatives from Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and the Quebec Ministère du Développement durable, de l’Environnement et des Parcs. Stratégies Saint-Laurent provided invaluable support in organizing and holding the meeting as well as in preparing these proceedings.

Since participation in the Forum was by invitation only, special attention was paid to representativeness. That meant that organizations representing various key sectors associated with St. Lawrence management activities were approached as network heads to play the role of intermediaries in disseminating the information and outcomes of this first Forum to as wide an audience as possible. Invitees included the municipal sector, First Nations, non-government organizations, the industrial and business communities, academia, research centres and governments. Out of the close to 100 organizations and individuals who were invited to attend, 86 accepted the invitation, which was in large part the reason behind the Forum's success. Hélène Raymond, a Radio-Canada journalist and a regular in meetings focussing on the environment and the St. Lawrence, headed the Forum. Ms. Raymond effectively fulfilled the objectives of this meeting by guiding the Forum's agenda, positively encouraging discussion and raising issues relevant to all participants.

The Forum agenda had been prepared with the three above objectives in mind. The day began with a few words by Pierre Arcand, Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks, to set the stage for the Forum, followed by presentations on the general state of the St. Lawrence ecosystem, on SLAP highlights and on the concept and approach behind the IMSL implementation. The morning wrapped up with a workshop in which participants were able to take a conceptual and practical approach to a concertation model that could be used throughout the IMSL implementation and during each subsequent forum. After a speech given by Mayor Régis Labeaume during lunch, a panel of St. Lawrence stakeholders allowed four representatives from various sectors to present their perspectives on the St. Lawrence, the IMSL and their sector's contribution to the approach. Lastly, participants were invited to take part in a concertation activity in which they identified priority themes for future forums. Although quite full, the agenda gave participants a chance to address a range of issues and engage in many productive discussions, which are reproduced in this document.