(Quebec) Prime Minister François Legault is closing the door for the moment on a referendum on the Quebec tramway project, but at the same time mentions the need to “consult” the population, without specifying how.
The Quebec City tram serial novel, which is never short of twists and turns, resumed with a vengeance this week. A chronicle of Quebec Journal citing anonymous government sources indicated that the idea of submitting the project to a referendum had more and more support in the CAQ caucus.
“We are not there,” said the Prime Minister of Quebec on Tuesday during a press scrum in parliament, in reference to a referendum.
“We want to consult the population. How we are going to consult the population, whether on a possible bridge or on the tramway, we have not yet decided. But we want to consult the population,” added François Legault.
Pressed by journalists, he did not want to completely rule out the idea of a referendum. “We’re not there yet,” he repeated.
PHOTO EDOUARD PLANTE-FRÉCHETTE, LA PRESS
François Legault
This idea of a broad consultation on mobility in the capital was born after the CAQ defeat in Jean-Talon. The government has also resurrected the third link project.
What form will this consultation take? Could it lead to the government abandoning its support for the tramway, a project launched by Régis Labeaume in 2018? The CAQ elected officials were unable to give clear answers to these questions on Tuesday.
“We have caucus discussions that go to several places. These are open discussions. Naturally, we say that we must consult citizens. There is a concern for social acceptability. That’s what we define,” said the minister responsible for the Capitale-Nationale, Jonatan Julien.
“Personally, I have never talked about a referendum. This idea does not come from me,” assured the Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Geneviève Guilbault. “When I have the structure or form of the consultation, I will come back to you,” she added.
In the Quebec parliament, both Québec solidaire and the Parti Québécois rejected the idea of holding a referendum on the Quebec tramway.
“The tramway is a project that we need, we have been studying it for a long time and there is no question of a referendum here,” indicated the solidarity MP for Taschereau, Étienne Grandmont, who must see the tramway pass through his constituency.
“Why a referendum in this project? Why not in other projects? Does the government intend to impose it or not? These are the questions to which we must have answers,” declared Pascal Paradis, the new PQ deputy for Jean-Talon, a constituency that the route must also cover.
The bill soon known
One thing is certain, support for the project seems to be declining. A SOM surveyThe sun unveiled in September showed that only 32% of respondents in the greater Quebec region still supported the project. The City of Quebec promises to shortly unveil its latest survey on the subject.
Several CAQ elected officials reaffirmed their support for the project on Tuesday, including Mr. Julien and the Prime Minister. “I agree with this project, but I must first see the cost, it must be reasonable”, nuance François Legault.
The tram cost update is expected in the coming months. The mayor of Quebec, Bruno Marchand, reiterated Tuesday that it will certainly cost more than 4 billion. Government sources mention the figure of 8 billion behind closed doors, but the City of Quebec has never confirmed.
PHOTO EDOUARD PLANTE-FRÉCHETTE, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Bruno Marchand and Jonathan Julien
Consortia interested in building the network must submit their financial proposals by November 2. But Mr. Marchand indicates that it could take weeks before being able to reveal the price since last minute negotiations are not impossible.
The mayor was delighted to see several elected government officials reiterate their support for the project on Tuesday. As for the consultation, Mayor Marchand indicated that the City was already making many efforts to increase support for the tramway.
“Quebec City will not hold a referendum. Consultation has already been done on this project and not only in Quebec, but also in the government as well. We have an advanced project, for which we have made expenses,” the mayor of Quebec said on Tuesday.
Bruno Marchand believes that this project is essential for his city, which must grow by 100,000 inhabitants by 2040. “What you see on the road right now will not be the same thing in ten years. And you will curse the politicians who did nothing,” warned the mayor.
The City is working on a plan B in the event that the bill for the consortiums is too high. The mayor has already mentioned the possibility of being project manager of the project.
“I tell you: we are going to build the tramway,” he said. But we will find the formula to do it at the right price. »
With Tommy Chouinard and Hugo Pilon-Larose, The Press