(Québec) François Legault ne s’excusera pas pour avoir brisé sa promesse électorale de construire un troisième lien autoroutier. Les citoyens qui patientent sur les ponts à l’heure de pointe devront « avouer que le délai est moins long » aujourd’hui et qu’il n’est plus justifié d’investir des milliards dans ce projet, a-t-il dit.
« Je comprends la déception, mais ma responsabilité c’est avec les nouvelles données de prendre la meilleure décision pour les Québécois. C’est ce que je fais. Je ne m’excuserai pas de prendre la meilleure décision pour les Québécois même si c’est une décision difficile », a-t-il lancé en point de presse mardi.
C’était sa première sortie médiatique depuis l’annonce officielle de l’abandon de la promesse caquiste. En campagne électorale, M. Legault demandait aux Montréalais d’arrêter de « regarder de haut les gens de Québec et de Lévis » et affirmait que l’érection d’un tunnel autoroutier était absolument nécessaire, avec ou sans étude.
« On avait des données. On pensait aussi que les impacts de la pandémie, de la baisse du trafic, étaient temporaires. […] We had data, we had made a decision,” he explained.
But on April 5, during a meeting with Transport Minister Geneviève Guilbault, he was convinced that the project was too expensive for the benefits the company would derive from it.
“We are seeing a significant drop in travel times, to such an extent that I do not think it is financially justifiable to make a third motorway link given the delays that can no longer be considered unreasonable between Quebec and Lévis”, explained the Prime Minister.
We had people who for several years told us “it’s a long time spent on the two bridges in the evening and in the morning”. These same people today will admit that the delay is shorter.
François Legault, Premier of Quebec
As soon as possible for public transport
Like the member for Lévis and Minister of Education Bernard Drainville, François Legault is in a hurry to advance the public transport tunnel project between Quebec and Lévis, which replaces the highway version.
“I know Bernard said that. My desire is to go as fast as possible while doing it correctly. But first you have to establish what the mode will be, and move forward as quickly as possible,” he said. He believes that in three and a half years, “we should be able to do a bit”.
He believes that this is the “best scenario” so that “people who do Quebec-Lévis evening and morning can do so by public transport. »
“Otherwise they can continue to use their car on both bridges within a time frame that is not unreasonable,” he said.
No preferential treatment
He received rather coldly the request of the deputy and minister Martine Biron, who believes that “the elevator must go up” for the Chaudière-Appalaches region, which must be compensated for the abandonment of this promise.
Mr. Legault said that unlike other governments that preceded the CAQ, he would not fund projects that are not necessary for political reasons.
“In the past, there were parties that were in government and did what they did. I make sure that all regions, including Chaudière-Appalaches, including the Capitale-Nationale, whether in transportation, health or education, that urgent and necessary projects, that we do them, “he said. -he says.
The 17 regions of Quebec will be treated equally, he said.