The CAQ government remains convinced that a big city like Quebec needs a big transportation project in Quebec, but an $8.4 billion tram “is expensive, very expensive, it’s worrying,” says François Legault .
Bruno Marchand still has to wait to know whether the government will start its plan B for the tram.
The mayor of Quebec made it clear on Wednesday morning that the ball was now in the government’s court, but it didn’t yet know how to take it.
The prime minister and his deputy, who had been waiting for weeks for the update that the mayor had just provided, essentially stuck to their statement that they wanted to “meet with the city of Quebec to discuss it.”
Mr Legault later clarified that it will also be about “project management”.
“That’s a lot of money compared to what was planned,” he added, reiterating that he hasn’t yet seen the “details” of the city’s overall “very expensive” Plan B.
“It is much more expensive than, remember, the original 3.3 billion,” noted Geneviève Guilbault.
“That’s a lot of money”
One thing is certain: Whether the bill is more than $10 billion with a consortium or $8.4 billion if the city does the streetcar project itself, “it’s a lot of money,” said M. Legault twice instead of once evading questions from journalists on this topic, at the entrance and exit of the Salon Bleu.
Charlesbourg deputy minister Jonatan Julien admits he was “a little surprised” when he learned that the tram design exceeded $12 billion after the normal tender process, Le Journal revealed.
What about $8.4 billion? “Here, too, we have to take the time to examine what is included and how we arrive at this number. “That will be the discussion we will have with the city,” Mr. Julien said.
The CAQ wants a project
“We at the CAQ believe in a structuring network, a strong network for mobility in Quebec,” assured Mr. Julien. Personally, as the minister responsible for the state capital, I believe in this. Now I’m looking forward to the city’s proposal. We’ll sit with them and then watch it.”
- Robert Poëti, former Minister of Transport, also didn’t mince his words! Listen to the interview on the microphone
Alexandre Dube
available inPodcast
or inaudiovisual
via the audio platformQUB radio
:
The Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility Geneviève Guilbault, who briefly reacted to the mayor’s announcement on the sidelines of a photo shoot with the mascot of Opération Nez Rouge, also reiterated: “It is important that “we have a structuring collective transport project for our country. ” Capital city”.
Deputy Prime Minister Geneviève Guilbault called on the media to take photos with the Operation Red Nose mascot in the lobby of Parliament on Wednesday. She was accompanied for the occasion by several CAQ elected officials. Photo Marc-André Gagnon
For his part, Solidarity MP Etienne Grandmont calls on the CAQ to “dispel any doubts about its support for the tram project”.
In particular, he fears that the city of Quebec will lose the $1 billion federal contribution that has been on the table for the streetcar for years.
“There are other cities in Canada that are fighting for money to expand public transit,” he recalls. There are some who understand that it is important for economic development and for the environment.”
Significant economic benefits are also at stake with the construction of trams in La Pocatière. “These are jobs here in Quebec. I think that we absolutely have to stick to the same line when it comes to the tram project for the middle section,” argued the MP for Taschenreau.
Can you share information about this story?
Write to us or call us directly at 1 800-63SCOOP.