(Trois-Rivières) The Coalition d’avenir Québec celebrated its 10e anniversary on the first day of its general council, whose menu avoided controversy and relied on consensual proposals. In the midst of this disciplined exercise, discordant notes were nevertheless heard on the subject of the environment. The third link is not immune to criticism.
He invited himself to the general council on Saturday, the outgoing mayor of the capital, Régis Labeaume, having published a letter the day before to deconstruct this project, the cost of which is estimated at up to 10 billion dollars. If he made this exit, it is because Mr. Labeaume is bitter and cannot digest the defeat of his runner-up Marie-Josée Savard in the municipal elections, replied the Legault government.
However, in his party, some voices are raised against this project. This is the case of Sylvain Duval, an activist in Portneuf. He took the microphone to worry about the government’s environmental guidelines, in particular the decision to “pack down” the new protected areas planned in southern Quebec.
In front of journalists, he argued his opposition to the third link. He believes that this tunnel would increase traffic congestion in the city center of the capital. This retiree wants to “shake up the cage” at the CAQ, believing that the government is “definitely” not doing enough in terms of the environment. “I believe that the environment must become number one in everything and that the economy [doit aller dans cette direction]. If we don’t go towards that, our children and our grandchildren, in what kind of planets are they going to live? », He launched. He says he is “very pessimistic” and believes that humans “have become the rats of the Earth”, those responsible for “destruction” of the environment.
According to Louis Desrosiers, activist in Abitibi-Ouest, “it is certain that it is not with the construction of roads that we will solve the problems of automobile traffic”. The third link is irrelevant to him, especially with the rise of teleworking. The bill is so high that he even doubts the Legault government will go ahead.
For the activist in Sainte-Rose Virginie Dufour, the CAQ is “the party that does the most in the environment”. But she believes that it is questionable whether the third link is in line with the government’s environmental objectives. “But does [ce projet] will ? It is not perfect, we agree, to make a tunnel in the river ”, launched to Press this former municipal councilor in Laval who was responsible for the environment within the executive committee.
Étienne Amyot, of Richmond, believes that the government should opt for a metro or only consider public transport in a smaller tunnel. Another young activist, who preferred to keep his name silent, dropped that he “does not understand the government with the third link project”.
Reply to Labeaume
PHOTO PATRICE LAROCHE, THE SUN
On Friday, the outgoing mayor of Quebec, Régis Labeaume, openly expressed his “concerns” about the tunnel project between Quebec and Lévis, the cost of which is estimated at up to $ 10 billion.
The Legault government sweeps aside criticism of its project. Friday, Mr. Labeaume openly expressed his “concerns” about the tunnel project between Quebec and Lévis. In his long letter, he asks the government to reconsider the project.
Minister Jonatan Julien, who was the right arm of Régis Labeaume before making the jump to the CAQ, believes that the outgoing mayor is linked to the verdict of voters last Sunday. “I understand that M. Labeaume [soit] disappointed with the results of the last election, he said. I understand that he has to mourn ”after 14 years at the head of Quebec City. “Ultimately I observe a multi-page letter issued on a Friday before the swearing-in [du nouveau conseil municipal] with several elements that seem to have a tinge of bitterness, ”he added.
According to the Minister responsible for the Capitale-Nationale region, Geneviève Guilbault, the government now wants to “move on” after the reign of Régis Labeaume and sees “with a very good eye the new era which is dawning” with Bruno Marchand at the town hall. “It’s going to be good,” she said.
Prime Minister François Legault is “not surprised” by the criticisms of Mr. Labeaume. “I always felt he didn’t have a lot of downforce” on the third link, he said. He said that a majority of citizens of Quebec and Lévis are in favor of the project. “Me, I work for citizens, I do not work for Régis Labeaume. He rejects the alternative solution proposed by the latter – a new layout of the tracks on the Pierre-Laporte Bridge according to rush hour. “We looked at all the options, it takes a third link […] and it’s better to have a tunnel. ”
He will meet Bruno Marchand next week. The new mayor “proposed changes” to the tramway project, “and we will look with him what is the best scenario for citizens,” said the Prime Minister.
10 years of the CAQ
To mark the 10 years of the party, actors from the first hour offered testimonies, including the deputy Marc Picard, former elected ADQ, and Chantal Longpré, signatory of the founding manifesto. There was also the director general of the CAQ, Brigitte Legault, and the strategic director of Minister Roberge, Jean-François Del Torchio, first press secretary of the CAQ – two former members of the Liberal Party of Canada. “We wish each other another 10 years with you, dear activists, but above all another 10 years with the same leader,” said Jean-François Del Torchio.
An emotional François Legault, on the verge of tears, addressed the 850 activists and members of the political staff of the government – a first meeting in person since the start of the pandemic. “I wouldn’t be here if you didn’t believe in me, so I’ll always remember it,” he said. “For 50 years in Quebec, there was an alternation between the same two parties and we managed to break that, we managed to change the landscape. ”