At a time when the municipal world is concerned about the unilateral powers that the government intends to grant to the future Mobilité Infra Québec (MIQ) agency, CDPQ Infra believes that it is “imperative” that ministries, cities and transport companies “be able to collaborate” to achieve Quebec’s ambitions in terms of public transport.
Bill 61, currently under the scrutiny of a parliamentary committee, provides that in the absence of agreements with cities, Mobilité Infra Québec will be free to determine their financial contribution to “complex transportation projects” in their territory.
This privilege extends beyond the simple monetary question. Mobilité Infra Québec, in the current wording of the bill, could also begin work without prior approval from municipalities. The agency could decree which organization is responsible for operating a transportation system and appropriate the rights of an owner over movable and immovable property belonging to a municipality.
The bill also provides that MIQ becomes the sole competent entity “with regard to a complex transport project for which the government has entrusted it with the planning or implementation.”
Cities and transportation companies have unanimously expressed their concerns about these powers, which they say could encroach on their autonomy. “When one of the actors has the power to unilaterally set the terms of the ‘agreement,’ there is reason to question the negotiation levers available to the other partners,” worried the City of Quebec in its brief presented Wednesday.
“Bill 61 is largely inspired by the law on the Réseau express métropolitain (REM),” the City of Montreal said the same day. “This seems to us to create an unwelcome distrust of municipalities.”
On Thursday, before the commission, CDPQ Infra half-heartedly agreed with the same idea. “It is imperative that everyone be able to collaborate, agree and act quickly” according to a “framework” and “rules respected by all stakeholders: ministries, municipalities, businesses, civil society, public transit operators,” stated its president and CEO, Jean-Marc Arbaud.
CDPQ Infra, which spoke from the authority provided by the construction of the REM — “the longest automated light rail line in the world, at costs that are significantly more competitive than comparable projects” — offered the government the contribution of its expertise to realize the agency’s mission.
“Over the past few years, we have demonstrated our ability to collaborate effectively with all stakeholders,” its CEO indicated on Thursday. The mayor of Montreal, the day before, sounded a discordant note, accusing the REM of “cannibalizing the revenues of other transit companies” and contributing to the “funding crisis” affecting public transit operations in the metropolitan area.
Global vision and clear rules
Mr. Arbaud’s appearance in committee allowed him to identify the current gaps in the development of public transportation in Quebec, including the lack of a “global vision” and a “strategy at the provincial, regional and city levels.” “This is a fundamental step [et] “It’s a concept for which there is clearly an empty seat, I’ll say it like that,” illustrated the CEO of Infra Québec. “There is not this level of planning.”
For example, Jean-Marc Arbaud indicated that public transit projects simply connect point A and point B, without establishing their necessity beforehand. In the current tight budgetary context, he maintains, we must stop navigating by sight and instead establish a large-scale plan and, above all, prioritize projects. “We must be realistic. […] You can’t do everything overnight.”
Far from being overshadowed by Mobilité Infra Québec, CDPQ Infra believes it can contribute to its mission and to the realization of projects.
“We can bring a lot of expertise into the overall planning [et] help build the foundations of the master plan point by point,” stressed its CEO. “Secondly, on a project in its implementation phase, [nous pouvons appuyer] everything that is structuring, calls for tender, technological choice, etc. And of course, since this is our reason for being at the fund, [nous pouvons] contribute financially [et] invest in projects.
CDPQ Infra also believes it is “crucial” that the future agency define clear and predictable rules. “To carry out a project, to have people who commit themselves, you also need to know what rules will apply,” maintained Jean-Marc Arbaud. “You cannot, when you have 8,000 workers who are involved in a project, wait for a decision on a permit, on authorizations, etc. If you know them, if they are precise, if they are defined by international rules, etc., yes, everyone does it. But if they are subjective, or [si] they could become so, or [si elles] are not the same everywhere, it is a big problem of competitiveness.