Are you surprised to learn that the Quebec City tram project will cost three times (“minimum!” as Hi Ha Tremblay says) as much as expected?
• Also read: The decision about the tram lies with François Legault
• Also read: Estimate of $12 to $13 billion: No bidders for the streetcar
If so, you probably don’t live in Quebec.
Because even Pierre Fitzgibbon said it last May: “Do you think there are many projects today where there are no cost overruns?” There are none. All projects experienced cost overruns…”
In other words, don’t trust the government when it tells you that project X will cost hundreds of millions of dollars.
It will always end up costing much more than expected.
It’s a rule.
It’s not me saying that, it’s the Minister of Economic Affairs himself.
The same applies to deadlines.
The work will never be finished on the day it should be finished.
Why does our government always try to give us costs and deadlines when it presents us with large projects, even though it knows full well that it cannot meet them?
He should simply tell us: “It will take a long time and it will be expensive.”
So no one will be surprised.
ON TIME
I don’t want to be too pessimistic, but sometimes I wonder if we in Quebec are able to do one thing, just one thing, that works.
SAAQclic. The state telecommunications network. The SAGIR project. The digital identity project. The RENIR project. The Santé Quebec Act. UPAC.
The blue basket. The REM.
Lark!
Type “cost overruns in Quebec” into your favorite browser. You will see smoke coming out of your computer!
“Cost overruns for the new UQTR pavilion.”
“The costs of the Grandes Fourches construction site are out of control.”
“Huge cost overruns on road projects.”
“Quebec’s prison costs are skyrocketing.”
“Already cost overruns for Blue Spaces.”
“Cost overruns and delays on all major projects in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean.”
“Cost overrun of one billion dollars at the La Fontaine tunnel construction site.”
“New cost overruns for the SRB Pie-IX. »
“Cost overruns of up to 300% for STM.”
“Cost Overruns for New Police Station.”
“The new Champlain Bridge is really going to cost more than expected.”
“Significant cost overruns for retirement homes.”
“Up to $2.3 million per course: Lab school costs are skyrocketing.”
Etc. etc.
The price is right (not).
In the meantime, we are told that we are able to calculate the impact (positive or negative) of sovereignty on Quebec’s economy…
Do you want to laugh at us?
We can’t even calculate the exact cost of building a shed to store brooms!
Imagine if Quebec was a restaurant.
“Yes, I know your steak cost $120 when it was supposed to cost $20, but what do you want, the gas stove broke, the chef asked for a raise and a storm in Argentina decimated a herd of cows…”
I’m not sure it would stay open for very long…
