(Quebec) Bruno Marchand has no intention of giving in to his showdown between him and the government. The mayor of Quebec is even preparing to reveal figures which, according to him, demonstrate the unequivocal support of citizens for a shared street on René-Lévesque, which gives less space to the car.
Posted at 4:13 p.m.
“The city we dream of is a low-carbon city of the future. And that’s where we’re going, ”said Mayor Marchand on Monday, who is at the heart of a dispute with the government of François Legault.
“It’s non-negotiable. I said it last week. And I am cheered up by what citizens have expressed as a will,” added Mr. Marchand, during an announcement alongside Quebec Minister of the Environment, Benoit Charette, and CAQ MP Joëlle Boutin.
The press conference was organized to announce a grant of 49 million to the City of Quebec to fight against climate change, sums already included in the budget unveiled last week. But the journalists’ questions all focused on the capital’s tram project.
The CAQ government made it known last week that it was opposed to the City transforming a 500-meter section of René-Lévesque Boulevard into a shared street. On this section, cars would be required to share space with cyclists and pedestrians. This solution would make it possible to preserve mature trees despite the insertion of the future tramway.
The mayor says he has had no discussions with the government since Thursday. The stalemate seems complete. “I am convinced that we are going to have shared streets”, assures the mayor, however.
The citizens of Quebec had until Friday to decide on the best solution for René-Lévesque. “This is probably the most completed questionnaire in the history of the City. Shared street support exceeded the 60% figure I gave you last week,” said Bruno Marchand.
“I think that the government will listen to reason, will realize through the consultations we have held, that this meets a high level of social acceptability. We will release the figures this week.
He therefore expects the government to unconditionally approve the necessary decrees for the tramway project by April 6.
“Sound management”
The Minister of the Environment showed solidarity with his caucus. Benoit Charette, however, did not want to say if he was opposed to the shared street, or if he thought that the City should cut more trees to make more room for motorists.
PHOTO FREDERICK MATTE, THE SUN
Environment Minister Benoit Charette
“My colleagues are deputies in some cases from the Quebec region. They are in contact with the people of their population and it is their obligation to report to us the questions that may be raised by the citizens of Quebec,” said Mr. Charette.
Several members of the government have denounced the shared street. According to projections by the City of Quebec, this scenario will lengthen travel times for motorists in the east-west axis.
“It’s not interference. It is sound management, given that we are talking about considerable sums,” defended Mr. Charette, assuring that his government still supported the project of some 4 billion. Quebec must lengthen at the very least 1.8 billion and Ottawa 1.2 billion.
Bruno Marchand also defended himself from waging a “war on the car”, as Eric Caire reproached him for last week.
“We want to build a green city, a city where it’s possible to get around in different ways. This is not a war on the car. It is a city where it is possible to move around by bicycle, on foot and where there is also space for the car. »