Here as elsewhere, a government that is falling in the polls is prone to making irrational decisions that aim less to serve the public interest than to allow it to regain popularity.
How can we explain that we are spending seven million dollars for the Los Angeles Kings to come and play two preparatory games in Quebec next fall, if not to give a favor to the capital’s hockey fans and make them come back to life for a few hours the emotions of the Nordic heyday?
It is surprising that the Minister of Finance, Eric Girard, who claims to be a prudent and reasonable man, is the initiator of this operation, since he had warned that the slowdown in the economy would lead to a drop in state revenue. , which apparently does not have the means to offer decent working conditions to its employees. Not to mention all the needs that inflation has made even more pressing.
Mr. Girard seemed very proud of his move, saying that neither party would miss it. Even if the Videotron Center is packed, he still can’t believe that this will convince the NHL to authorize the return of major hockey to Quebec!
That the Legault government has lost its way to the point of spending millions on two hockey games of no importance, in such an inappropriate context, suggests that it could very well leave the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) develop a public transport project that meets its profitability objectives and then entrust it to its implementation.
After its misadventure in the REM de l’Est project, we can understand why the CDPQ wanted to take certain precautions before taking over from the City of Quebec.
In the spring of 2022, its president, Charles Emond, had also accused Mayor Valérie Plante of having torpedoed the light train project aimed at serving the east of Montreal, even though she had said she was delighted with it a month later. early. Questioned during a dinner conference by the CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal, who asked her if she had not thrown the baby out with the bathwater, Ms.me Plante had maintained that she had instead saved a project “which was going to the wall”. Time will tell who was right.
The fact remains that a scalded cat fears cold water. Anxious to avoid a repeat of the scenario in Quebec, Mr. Emond demanded that the collaboration of the City be ensured before accepting the mandate entrusted to him by the Legault government.
Unless he resigned, and despite the humiliating rebuff he suffered last week, Mayor Marchand could not refuse his assistance. But how could he remain silent about a project with which he did not agree? Collaborating does not mean giving carte blanche.
In the case of the REM de l’Est, Mayor Plante could not let the Caisse de dépôt disfigure downtown Montreal and cannibalize the metro to ensure the performance it demanded. The situation will not necessarily be repeated in Quebec, but great vigilance is required.
Since the about-face on the third link and the defeat of the Coalition Avenir Québec in the by-election in Jean-Talon, the Legault government feels an urgent need to offer compensation to the Quebec region. The Prime Minister promised a “great transport project”, but the expensive invitation he issued to a billionaire hockey club raises doubts about the quality of his criteria.
Mr. Emond also obtained that there be no restrictions in the mode of transportation that the CDPQ could offer. Even if the tram has been the preferred option until now, we will also examine the possibility of implementing a light train, such as the REM, or a metro. There is no harm in lifting all the stones, except that this new delay risks further increasing costs. But it goes without saying that the choice of mode of transport and route will determine the extent of the work and, consequently, the damage it will cause.
During a conference held with the Minister responsible for Infrastructure and the Capitale-Nationale region, Jonatan Julien, Mr. Marchand redirected all questions relating to the project to the latter, and he warned journalists that he would be the same over the next few months.
The mayor of Quebec has every reason to be bitter. It nevertheless becomes the final shield against the excesses of a government which has lost its way. He has this duty not only towards his constituents, but also towards all Quebecers who are worried about the face of their capital.