When it was built in the 1960s, the Port of Belledune was a vital asset to support the development of the northeastern New Brunswick economy. The expansion of the mining sector led to the establishment of a lead smelter and other industrial projects. In the 1980s, a coal-fired electricity generation plant was built to further expand development opportunities. In 2022 the port is at a crossroads.

The smelter has closed and NB Power’s facilities, the port’s top customer, will not be importing coal by 2030. What is the role of the Port of Belledune to support the next 20-30 years of economic opportunities in the region?

Denis Caron, President & CEO of the port joins David Campbell and Don Mills on the "Insights" podcast this week to talk about the new vision.  Once again, Denis is positioning the port at the centre of a new generation of economic development that includes a green energy hub and the value-added production of products based on green and clean energy.

He envisions a port with deeper integration with European markets for both import and export opportunities. If this important region of New Brunswick is to thrive in the years ahead, the Port of Belledune has an important role to play.

You can listen to their conversation in the player above or download the show on your preferred podcast platform.

The “Insights” podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

Search for “Huddle Insights” on podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, and follow the show so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there.