(Montreal) Greta Bédard, who has been acting head of the Société des traversiers du Québec (STQ) since December 8, 2022, has finally been appointed president and chief executive officer of the STQ.
His appointment by the Council of Ministers was announced on Wednesday evening.
Greta Bédard thus becomes the first woman at the head of the Société des traversiers du Québec, she who already has more than 20 years of service within the Crown corporation.
Mme Bédard succeeds Stéphane Lafaut, who left his position after four years at the head of the state-owned company, marked in particular by the problems of the very expensive ferry NM F.-A.-Gauthierstruggling with repeated breakdowns and service interruptions.
During an announcement with the Minister of Transport, Geneviève Guilbault on January 30, Greta Bédard acknowledged “that the last few years have not been easy. She pointed out that “the STQ has already undertaken a multitude of actions with the aim of improving its governance and project management practices”.
The two women had just announced three new electric ferries, one to serve Isle-aux-Coudres and two for the Sorel–Saint-Ignace-de-Loyola crossing at a cost of 191.5 million. They should be in service in 2030, if all goes according to plan.