Mayor Marchand is reassured by the clarifications from the mayor of Lévis and the leader of the Parti Québécois (PQ) on the tram issue, but notes that the politicization of the issue during the election campaign is damaging the project.
• Also read: Quebec Tramway: According to the PSPP, the PQ is on the same wavelength as the city
• Also read: Third link: Lehouillier still believes in the need for a motorway tunnel
“I think that unfortunately this issue suffers from partisanship at every level, campaign or political level, whatever it may be. When we worry about social acceptance, there is a lot of excitement at stake. This was the case in the federal election campaign, in the Quebec election campaign and in the local election campaign. “Unfortunately it is part of the debate and it is true that it is damaging the tram,” said Bruno Marchand in a spontaneous press release on Tuesday.
In the middle of the election campaign for the provincial by-election in Jean-Talon, the issue came up several times. On Tuesday, Mr Marchand welcomed the exit of PQ leader Paul St-Pierre-Plamondon, who had confirmed the day before that he was on the same wavelength as the city.
“So much better! If he just confirmed that he’s the same as me and that he’s steadfastly pro-tram, that’s the best news we needed.”
- Listen to the political meeting between Antoine Robitaille and Benoit Dutrizac QUB radio :
Allies
The mayor was also pleased that his counterpart from Lévis, Gilles Lehouillier, renewed his support for the project, although he remains bitter about the abandonment of the third highway link and said he doubts the ability to carry out major infrastructure projects in the region . “We will demonstrate this. He told me he believed in the tram. He said yesterday he believed in the tram. I’ll make him an ally. “We will build the tram,” said the mayor of Quebec.
Mr Marchand stressed the importance of bringing tram defenders together. “We need a lot of people to explain all the advantages and benefits this has for Quebec. We need more allies than people who doubt. »
Opinion poll
The mayor confirmed that the city will soon survey citizens in connection with the tram. However, he denied circulating rumors that an investigation that would conclude the project would cost $5.5 million would come from the municipality. “It’s not the fault of the rest of us. [Ce montant] comes out of nowhere. »
He says he doesn’t have any information on the price yet. This will be submitted by the consortia by November 2nd. “We will have the results in a month. We hope to announce them as soon as possible. »
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