If Quebec does not improve its financial offering for public transport, transit operators in the Montreal region will have to make significant cuts to the transport network.
On Thursday afternoon, mayors of the Metropolitan Community of Montreal (CMM), including Valérie Plante of Montreal, Stéphane Boyer of Laval and Catherine Fournier of Longueuil, made an appeal to Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility Geneviève Guilbault. so that Quebec can absorb more of the transport companies’ deficits.
Last week, the minister announced that Quebec would cap its contribution at 20% to address the projected $2.5 billion deficit over five years for Quebec’s public transit agencies.
The mayors of the Montreal region consider this proposal unacceptable. “Cuts in service could damage Montreal’s reputation and harm its economic potential. If the subway closes at 11pm, that means there will be no subway after a Canadian game. That means that when we go to the Grand Prix, of which we are so proud, everyone will be stuck on the island of Sainte-Hélène because there is no longer a subway,” emphasized Mayor Plante during the press briefing.
“We stand up for the people we represent,” said the mayor of Longueuil. Catherine Fournier recalled that time was running out as cities had to finalize their budgets shortly. “We need an answer to prevent a disaster that awaits us in public transport,” she said.
For his part, the mayor of Laval, Stéphane Boyer, asked what vision Quebec has when it comes to public transport. “Is our vision fewer buses and more cars and traffic jams on our roads? Because that’s where we’re going if we accept the proposal that’s currently being put before us. » For Mr Boyer, Quebec’s low contribution amounts to a government withdrawal from public transport.
The subway closes at 11 p.m.
Carriers have come up with several cutback scenarios if Quebec doesn’t improve its proposal. It mentions the closure of the subway at 11 p.m. and the reduction in services in Montreal and the suburbs. However, the elected officials did not want to provide further details about the measures analyzed. However, Valérie Plante made it clear that there is no question of abandoning free public transport for seniors in Montreal, a measure that costs the metropolis 24 million but has no impact on other cities.
When contacted by Le Devoir, Ms. Guilbault’s office said it did not want to “negotiate in public” and therefore refrained from commenting.
The mayors and minister should resume dialogue on Friday, as a meeting of Mobilité Montréal partners is planned. But elected officials hope Quebec will listen to their demands.
For his part, Etienne Grandmont, member of Quebec Solidaire responsible for transport issues, called on Minister Guilbault to persuade her government to release the money necessary to revive public transport in Quebec. “We knew the CAQ didn’t have much interest in Montreal, but closing the subway at 11 p.m. and removing buses in 2023 is not only a scandal, it’s irresponsible!” he said in a statement the media.
With Florence Morin-Martel and Zacharie Goudreault