In 1805, the Canadian government established Trinity House, whose mission was to administer the port, issue licenses to the St. Lawrence pilots and even be responsible for tending buoys. In 1858, the Canadian government created the Quebec Harbour Commission to coordinate the development of maritime and harbour activities in Québec. Trinity House was disbanded in 1873 and management of the port was then transferred to the Quebec Harbour Commission in 1875. The government established the National Harbours Board in 1936, which included the major Canadian ports and dissolved the Harbour Commissions. The National Harbours Board was an agent of the Crown and controlled the business and service operations. This organization reported on its activities to Parliament through the Department of Transport.

Around 1983, the federal government reviewed the Canadian port management legislation and passed the Canada Ports Corporation Act. The Port of Quebec Corporation was established in 1984, as well as six other Local Port Corporations. This new legislative stage resulted in the incorporation of the major Canadian port entities and brought decision-making power back to a local level.

On May 1, 1999, following the passage of the Canada Marine Act, the Canada Ports Corporation was gradually wound up to make way for a national port system managed by Canadian Port Authorities (CPA). Thus, the Port of Quebec Corporation has now become the Quebec Port Authority, a non-profit federal agency.