(Montreal and Sherbrooke) In order to create the “Quebec bus” state corporation, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois promises to nationalize 11 “strategic” lines of intercity bus transportation, including the corridor between Montreal and Quebec, which would have the effect of chase companies like Orléans Express, Intercar or Galland from certain busy routes.
Posted at 2:56 p.m.
Updated at 4:22 p.m.
The parliamentary leader of Quebec solidaire was particularly dissatisfied on Saturday with the service offered by the company Keolis Canada, which operates Orléans Express in Quebec. If he forms the next government, he wants to repatriate several routes currently operated by the company to the public sector to create “Quebec bus” within four years. Mr. Nadeau-Dubois announced on Friday that this new state-owned company would link 11 intercity bus lines, which required an investment of $2 billion.
PHOTO GRAHAM HUGHES, THE CANADIAN PRESS
The parliamentary leader of Québec solidaire, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois
“The question that Quebecers must ask themselves is Orléans Express, does it do the job? Does it provide good service to Quebecers? The people of Gaspésie have known for years that the answer is no. But now, it is even in Montreal and Quebec that there are fewer services. Between Montreal and Quebec, in 2022! It’s embarrassing,” he said.
“Quebec bus” would allow the government to operate between Montreal and Rouyn-Noranda, in the Abitibi region, between the Lanaudière and Laurentian regions, on route 132, between Montreal and Quebec, Sherbrooke and Quebec, Quebec and Saguenay, Quebec and Sept-Îles, in Gaspésie and Chibougamau.
Companies like Orléans Express could continue to offer services on routes other than those nationalized for the new state-owned company and a supportive government would be open to financing part of their operations, Mr. Nadeau-Dubois said on Saturday. The QS co-spokesperson did not say how much such a subsidy would cost and did not say whether he had discussed his plan with the companies concerned.
“At the moment, on these lines, the service is not sufficient. […] The current model does not work [et] it has to be changed,” said Mr. Nadeau-Dubois.
Billions for Sherbrooke
Québec solidaire also promised on Saturday to invest 4.2 billion over eight years in Sherbrooke to build two tram lines, nine high-frequency bus lines and to connect the public transport network to its electric train project. Québec rail”, which would connect the city to Montreal.
Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois made this new promise in Estrie, where his party is trying everything to keep the riding of Sherbrooke, where François Legault is presenting former commentator Christine St-Hilaire against incumbent Christine Labrie. Québec solidaire also wishes to delight the neighboring riding of Saint-François at the CAQ by presenting candidate Mélissa Généreux.
Mr. Nadeau-Dubois defended himself on Saturday for having presented the day before a plan to create a public rail transport network at 10.7 billion, “Québec rail”, without having been able to explain how his party had arrived. at this cost.
“When we are in the electoral campaign […] we have to present our vision. We have to tell Quebecers here is our level of ambition, here is what we are ready to invest, here is the direction in which we want to go. Once you are in government, you have to set these projects in motion based on existing studies,” he said, acknowledging that he did not currently hold a traffic or cost studies to create this vast project.
Big Controversial Gathering
Mr. Nadeau-Dubois will also participate Saturday evening in a large militant rally in Sherbrooke, where he will be accompanied by the party’s co-spokesperson, Manon Massé. Their event at the Granada Theatre, “L’Estrie de show”, made headlines this week because it violates an agreement signed between the City of Sherbrooke and the organization that operates the hall, which stipulates that it is forbidden to rent the theater to a party during the election campaign.
In an interview with TVA, the management of the Granada theater admitted having made a mistake when it signed the contract with Québec solidaire, earlier this year. She can no longer terminate it. Éric Duhaime’s Conservative Party had been refused to rent the hall recently.