Claiming the imminence of the elections in Quebec, the Bloc leader, Yves-François Blanchet, prefers to keep “a certain embarrassment” rather than supporting the new version of the controversial third link.
As for the social acceptability of the project, he wondered if the “discussion” was “completed”.
During the federal election campaign last fall, he had nevertheless said that he was convinced that the highway tunnel project could be “ecological” and that it had “positive” environmental potential.
This had aroused discontent in the sister party, the Parti Québécois, which is against the project.
But Mr. Blanchet met Tuesday morning the mayor of Quebec, Bruno Marchand, who has reservations about the new project for a third link to two tunnels, presented last week by the CAQ government.
The mayor did not appear alongside his guest in the press scrum at City Hall.
When Mr. Blanchet was asked if he shared the opinion of the mayor, who remains to be convinced of the merits of the project, he replied: “As we approach a Quebec election campaign, I am keeping a some embarrassment.
Not enough knowledge for an accurate opinion
He hinted that he doesn’t know “enough” about the new version of the third link to have an accurate opinion.
“There are many elements that we do not yet know, we do not have the whole origin of the data”, he pleaded.
He raised doubts about the actual cost of the planned work, currently estimated at $6.5 billion. “But in 10 years, it may be more than 10 years and more than 6.5 billion, because that’s always what happens. The National Assembly and the population have a discussion to continue on this project. »
He nevertheless reiterated that the existence of a link between downtown Quebec and Lévis is “something worthwhile”.
According to him, does the project have the acceptance of the population?
“The social acceptability of a project comes when it is more advanced in its development. Perhaps the discussion is not complete. »
Regarding another controversial project in Quebec, the tramway, the Bloc leader, who considers this project to be “exciting”, maintains that in this case, acceptability is “in the process of being solidified”.
Rather in favor last fall
During the federal campaign, Mr. Blanchet said of the third link project: “I don’t hate it. »
At the time, it was a mega-construction of more than 10 billion dollars, a two-storey tunnel for a total of six lanes. The new project would be more modest.
“I am convinced that it can be [écologique]and that Quebec is perfectly aware that this project has positive potential in terms of the environment,” he argued at the time.
When it was pointed out to him on Tuesday that he once liked the project, he said it was an interpretation he disputes.
“You’re not going to make me say something I didn’t say again,” he insisted.