Montreal-Trudeau Airport | Quebec and Ottawa promise to act to “improve fluidity”

Quebec and Ottawa are raising their voices on the Montreal-Trudeau airport issue, where problems are multiplying. The provincial and federal transport ministers both spoke on Thursday of the urgency of acting to “improve fluidity”. In Ottawa, there are plans to increase investments in infrastructure.

“The minister does not like what is currently being reported in the media. All organizations have a role to play and responsibilities to improve access to the airport. […] Quebecers expect actions to improve fluidity around the airport. We must work together,” the office of Quebec Transport Minister Geneviève Guilbault insisted on Thursday.

She was reacting to a report from The Press published Thursday, which addressed the pitfalls that accumulate at the Montreal airport, including queues for cars or buses, or waiting times at customs. According to several observers, the worst is probably to come, since major work must soon take place to increase the capacity of the landing stage.

In a letter sent to the new CEO of Aéroports de Montréal (ADM) Yves Beauchamp, appointed in July, Minister Guilbault indicates that she wants to “quickly summon him to a meeting” to discuss “numerous issues”, including the question of management of the circulation.

M^me Guilbault maintains that he has taken action, in particular to impose more sanctions on illegal taxis, one of the scourges that also hit the airport. But for the rest, she writes that “tourists have the right to expect a great experience when they visit your site, whether they enter or leave it”. “Our metropolis is a showcase and a major gateway for Quebec internationally,” insists the elected official.

“I would also like us to closely monitor the upcoming steps in the commissioning of a Réseau express métropolitain (REM) station in ADM. I remind you that the construction of this is your responsibility,” continues the minister, maintaining that it will be “imperative” to have a link between the airport and the city center in 2027 to improve travel for travelers.

Behind the scenes, we also emphasize to the government that the City of Montreal “has a very important role to play in the fluidity and access to the airport” and “that we expect tangible results for citizens”. “A large part of the solutions lie with the City and the airport,” we still insist.

More money in sight of Ottawa?

On 98.5 FM, Federal Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez admitted Thursday that the situation is “complicated in Montreal.” ” Who is responsible ? I would say a little bit of everyone. Everyone has to do a little better,” argued the man who has just taken up a position in Transport.

The elected official, who was also due to meet the management of ADM, said he was “increasing” meetings with airports, but also security companies, controllers and airlines to get an idea of ​​the problem. “You shouldn’t point fingers at each other. There are a lot of problems and they need to be resolved. […] by bringing everyone together. »

The minister does not rule out increasing federal investments in infrastructure. “Does it take more infrastructure? I’m going to look at that too, but it’s a whole thing,” he said, maintaining that we also need “enough people at security, enough people at air controls and at the borders.”

As early as November 2021, the former CEO of ADM, Philippe Rainville, warned that a lot of money would have to be injected into the Montreal-Trudeau airport after the pandemic. At the time, Mr. Rainville spoke of “a few billion” to restore his financial health. So far, ADM has received 170 million from Ottawa, including 100 million for the REM, which will cost 600 million.

“Beyond that, ADM does not receive any other government subsidies and continues to pay rent of 12% of its revenues to Transport Canada (68.3 million in 2022), in addition to payments in lieu of taxes to municipalities and others taxes of 45.7 million in 2022. The Canadian airport model is thus made,” confirms ADM spokesperson Anne-Sophie Hamel by email.

Mr. Rodriguez recalls that Bill C-52, tabled by his predecessor Omar Alghabra, aims precisely to require players in the airline industry to “better share information” among themselves. The bill in question, which is currently being studied, aims in particular to establish service standards and force operators to disseminate related performance data.

“There are obvious gaps. Everyone must do better,” his cabinet persisted on Thursday, which hopes for a “rapid adoption” of this bill to ensure that airports, airlines or border services “are obliged to work better together”.