Expansion of the Palais des Congrès | Minister Girard dampens hopes

The Minister of Finance dampened the enthusiasm of supporters of an expansion of the Palais des Congrès on Monday in a speech before the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal. In response to a question from CEO Michel Leblanc, Eric Girard suggested that as “COP15 is going very well in the existing size”, the infrastructure did not need an expansion.

However, the expansion of the Palais des congrès has been on the government’s agenda for years. Quebec even spent more than 19 million to expropriate the necessary land east of Saint-Urbain Street.

Behind the scenes, it is rumored that the minister was joking. Called to comment officially, his cabinet did not however reassure the proponents of this work.

“The file is currently being analyzed by the government. We will communicate the decision taken in due time, ”wrote in a text message the press secretary of Eric Girard, Claudia Loupret.

No irony, says Michel Leblanc

On Monday, Eric Girard answered a question from the CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal (CCMM) on the need to choose priorities in infrastructure investments.

By implying that the Palais des Congrès was of sufficient size, the Minister “was not being ironic”, believes CEO Michel Leblanc. “I replied that the challenge is related to other events that we cannot accommodate, which require greater capacities,” he said. It goes far beyond being able to host COP15. »

In interview with The Press, the CEO of the Palais des Congrès, Emmanuelle Legault, considers that the minister was undoubtedly taken aback by the question. She also concedes that after the opportunity file produced in 2018, the context has changed considerably with COVID-19.

“It’s somewhat normal for the government to prioritize health and education,” she said. It’s up to us to show that there really is a benefit to moving forward with this file, hence the importance of updating the data. »

At Tourisme Montréal, the minister’s remarks leave the vice-president of public affairs “doubtful”.

“I’m not going to stop at that, because for us, at Tourisme Montréal, it’s not a choice,” said Manuela Goya. If Mr. Girard thinks in those terms and it is serious, we will redo our homework with the Chamber of Commerce, with other major players, to present an up-to-date file. »

For her, the metropolis has no other choice but to expand this infrastructure. “We lose too many events,” she said.

Tourisme Montréal says it has identified 150 organizations that could be interested in the location of the Palais des Congrès, right downtown, but whose events are too big for the infrastructure.

She cites the example of the American College of Physicians conference that Montreal was unable to host in 2020. “They were asking for 350,000 square feet for 7,000 participants,” she says. We only have 330,000 square feet. »

She adds that Toronto, Vancouver and even Calgary all now have a convention center larger than the one in Montreal.

Up to 32 million for land

If Quebec is not yet connected as to the relevance of expanding the Palais des Congrès, the government has already incurred costs of more than 19 million only to acquire three lots east of Saint-Urbain Street, where s would extend the enlargement.

The sum will swell further with the payment of certain interest. But above all, the State will have to pay nearly 14 million additional if the government loses its battle against one of the expropriated before the court.

Last year, the administrative court condemned Quebec to pay this additional sum to Développements St-Antoine, which owned the former address of the music store Steve’s inc. until 2020.

The government has appealed the judgment to the Court of Quebec, but the trial will not take place until next September.