Despite the increase in costs, “going back is not an option” in the tramway file, insists Federal Minister Jean-Yves Duclos.
“The project has had significant delays, significant changes to the route, and there is significant inflation. Those three things lead to higher costs, but that doesn’t take away the responsibility to act for our city. We have to catch up [par rapport aux villes de même taille au pays]and the federal government will be there, ”assures the member for Quebec and federal Minister of Health.
Several sources have recently suggested that the updated costs of the tram, which will be presented at the beginning of the year, would now be between five and six billion. This represents one to two billion more.
Mr. Duclos has not obtained an official update, but he recalls that such a network will fulfill several crucial roles: it will structure the economic and social development of Quebec, in addition to helping to reduce congestion and pollution .
The Minister is not worried about the level of support for the project, since people are likely, at this stage, to see more of the problems. He reminds that everywhere else, once the project is done, people would never go back.
coming storm
The Minister confirms that the federal government has still not received a formal request from the Government of Quebec for the use of federal funds available for public transit, the deadline for which is set for March 31, 2023. He nevertheless says he is confident, to hear Minister Jonatan Julien, that it will be done in time.
There remains 2.7 billion in this envelope, and it is very likely that a part will be used to absorb cost overruns, he repeats. Mayor Marchand said yesterday that discussions were going well between Prime Ministers Trudeau and Legault on this subject yesterday, and that we were “in solution mode”.
Then, with the upcoming start of development work on the project, “the City will experience difficult times in the coming years, it will be complicated for the town hall and Mr. Marchand’s team. It’s going to brew, said M. Duclos, speaking of a storm. But as they say, you can’t make omelettes without breaking eggs. »
Hence the importance for the City and the two governments to stick together, says the Minister rightly. “We are on the right track, we must continue to walk together”, he underlines.
The Minister welcomes with optimism the fact that relations between the City of Quebec and the Government of Quebec have been going well since the arrival of Jonatan Julien as Minister responsible for the Capitale-Nationale.
“What I hear from the City is that there is a different attitude and tone […], he said. I consider this relationship to be absolutely fundamental, because for the Canadian government to be useful, the two must be able to agree. »
Mr. Duclos has known Mr. Julien for several years. He appreciates this “great athlete, very attached to Quebec and very committed, positive and who sees solutions when we see challenges. I like our relationship so far, and we will continue to work together. »
Quebec Bridge
Regarding the Quebec Bridge, Mr. Duclos says that “we are very close to a solution” to make the federal government the new owner of the bridge, especially now that the lease has been renewed between CN and the Government of Quebec.
He compares negotiator Yvon Charest, a “solid man” who voluntarily got involved in the file at the request of the federal government, to the “Frodo of the Lord of the Rings “.
The bridge, says the Minister, will still be safe for at least 75 years once the required work has been carried out, and it would cost much more to destroy it to rebuild a link. To be continued.