The poll of voters in the Jean-Talon riding on October 2 was seen by Prime Minister François Legault as a signal that we need to restore the relationship of trust with the people of Quebec. Obviously, this intention does not apply to the mayor.
In the wake of the election results, the Prime Minister put the third link project back on the agenda and weakened the tram project.
Bruno Marchand then implored Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) MPs and ministers to stop putting the blame on the mayor of Quebec when it comes time to defend the tram. He emphasized that the project cannot be that of one man. It needs the support of the entire community and, above all, the support of the government, the main financier.
The community heard the mayor. Business leaders, environmental groups, insurance companies and financial institutions expressed their support in an open letter published this week.
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Quebec Mayor Bruno Marchand
Photo: Radio-Canada / Hans Campbell
Not the government.
Instead, the Minister for Transport and Sustainable Mobility gave a lecture to Bruno Marchand. Geneviève Guilbault brushed aside his accusations by reminding him that when the CAQ wanted to remove shared roads from the project, he had loudly demanded more autonomy to run the matter his way. She also emphasized that he had a duty to restore social acceptance.
End of InnoVitam
In the InnoVitam file it is about the same. The government has abandoned the important project to develop an innovation zone in the east of Quebec City. A year ago, the Marchand government announced that there was a dispute with the Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy over the instructions for the project.
But it took several agonizing months before Minister Pierre Fitzgibbon officially closed the file this week. Meanwhile, across the river, the CAQ announced significant investments for the Davie shipyards. Buying back Rabaska land could also enable the development of a new economic zone.
status quo
Since coming to power in 2018, the CAQ has never felt obliged to set the same priorities as Quebec mayors, whether Bruno Marchand or Régis Labeaume before him.
The minister responsible for the region did not want to publicly reassure the mayor after these two cancellations. The only answer is for the CAQ to get its Metropolitan Economic Zone project back on track. The ZEM was announced last spring by Minister Jonatan Julien with great fanfare and without funding. This new alliance is intended to better coordinate economic activities between Lévis and Quebec. Nothing very special.
The region is still unable to speak with one voice. This creates the impression that you are going around in circles.