(Quebec) The majority of Quebec residents have a bad opinion of the tramway project, despite months of efforts by the Marchand administration to promote this infrastructure project presented as the most important in the history of the capital.
The latest survey commissioned from the Léger firm by the City of Quebec shows that 40% of residents have a good opinion of the project, compared to 60% who have a bad opinion.
This web survey, carried out among 1,005 respondents living in Quebec City, comes as CAQ ministers repeat that the social acceptability of the project must improve.
IMAGE TAKEN FROM THE LÉGER SURVEY ON BEHALF OF QUEBEC CITY
“Support continues,” responded the mayor of Quebec, Bruno Marchand, Friday morning, seeing the glass half full. “Right now, despite the uncertainties, I am reassured about our ability to work with the government. »
It is true that three surveys carried out in quick succession in January, May and October 2022 placed support for the project between 41% and 44%.
However, the latest Léger survey, carried out from September 28 to October 10, arrives at a worrying conclusion for the tram project: the opponents are more and more… opposed.
Some 44% of respondents have a “very bad” opinion of the tram. A year ago, in October 2022, 28% said they “completely disagree”.
How to explain it? Bruno Marchand notes that support for the tramway is mainly found in La Cité-Limoilou and Sainte-Foy-Sillery-Cap-rouge, the two districts where the tramway must pass. Conversely, opponents are more numerous in the peripheral districts.
“It’s normal that when there isn’t one for you, that it doesn’t pass in your neighborhood, at least in the first phase, that you are more against this project,” believes Bruno Marchand, who thinks that the support in these places will increase when we eventually talk about phases 2 or 3.
The mayor also served as a small hook for “radio stations that talk badly about it every day, morning, noon and evening”. Certain radio hosts in the capital are in fact in open war against this public transport project.
The survey also reveals, without much surprise, that the possible cost of the project is the first element on which respondents want more information. The City is awaiting submissions from firms at the beginning of November for this 19.3 km and 29 stations project. The price will be known in the following weeks or months. But the mayor already admits that the costs will exceed 4 billion.
More details to come.