(Quebec) In his last entrenchments since the only consortium interested in building the Quebec tramway withdrew from the race, Mayor Bruno Marchand presented on Wednesday his solution to save this mega project which seems more than ever close to completion. ‘agony.
The “Marchand plan”, which consists of the City of Quebec becoming the project manager of this project now estimated at 8.4 billion, received a diametrically opposed reception from the two donors. If Ottawa “continues to support” the construction of a tramway in the capital, Quebec considers the latest developments “worrying”.
“It is much more expensive than the initial 3.3 billion and the latest public figure of 3.9 billion,” commented the Minister of Transport, Geneviève Guilbault.
PHOTO EDOUARD PLANTE-FRÉCHETTE, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Geneviève Guilbault
The Prime Minister, for his part, considered this new cost estimate “worrying”. “Above all, here I am not sure, but I am told that we have removed all the forecasts for unforeseen events, I want to see that, I do not have the details,” indicated Mr. Legault in reference to the invoice of 8.4 billion presented by Mayor Marchand.
This rather cold reception from the Legault government to the City’s latest proposal contrasts with Ottawa’s reaction.
“Quebec City is the only city of comparable size in Canada not to have a modern public transportation network. If the city of Quebec does not take advantage of the funds available for the construction of the tramway, other cities will jump at the opportunity to invest funds from the Canadian government,” reacted in a press release the MP for Quebec and Minister of Public Services and of Supply, Jean-Yves Duclos.
“Quebec City therefore has the choice of catching up or letting other cities benefit from available and future investments from the Canadian government. »
A “Merchant plan” to save the tramway
The mayor of Quebec confirmed on Wednesday that the last consortium in the running to build the 19 km network was preparing to submit a financial proposal beyond 10 billion. Remember that former mayor Régis Labeaume presented a 3.3 billion project in spring 2018.
Faced with the explosion of costs and difficult financing conditions, Mobilité de la Capitale finally told the City that it was withdrawing last Friday. A previous consortium, Modernité, withdrew in the fall of 2022.
The City was therefore faced with two options: abandon the project or become project manager, that is to say, award contracts piecemeal and assume the risks. The Marchand administration chose Second Avenue, even though support for the streetcar was at an all-time low in the capital. The latest Léger poll revealed Friday showed 36% support.
“It would be easier for me today to say ‘I really liked the project, but today it’s over’,” Bruno Marchand said in front of an audience of numerous journalists on Wednesday morning.
“Electorally speaking, I would win a card. That would be the easiest path. But I don’t play politics to take the easiest path,” added the mayor.
Bruno Marchand assures us that he believes more than ever in the need for a tramway. And he thinks that the City is capable of delivering it at 8.4 billion.
“We are confident that we have found a way to carry out the project in such a way as to reduce costs and risks and complete the project within a reasonable time,” assures Bruno Marchand.
The City now has in its hands the technical proposal that Mobilité de la Capitale submitted last August. This document could serve as a plan for the city, which had to pay 14 million to the consortium. “We don’t have an imaginary project. We are faced with a project ready to be carried out,” he says.
The mayor swears that the federal government is ready to inject 3 billion. The ball is now in the court of the Legault government, the main donor.
“I am presenting him with a reasonable project, now it’s up to him to get on board,” said Mr. Marchand, speaking of the Prime Minister.
PHOTO EDOUARD PLANTE-FRÉCHETTE, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
François Legault
“Why when it’s 8 billion for the REM in Montreal is it not a problem? asked the mayor. Why is it not a problem when it’s in Toronto or Alberta? »
Ultimatum: end of November
This umpteenth twist in the tram issue suggests stormy political weeks between city hall and parliament.
The offices of the mayor and the Minister of Transport have been in discussion for weeks according to the mayor of Quebec. The figure of 8.4 billion has been in the hands of the government since July. The timid reactions of CAQ elected officials cannot therefore be attributed to surprise.
The Prime Minister has also been talking for days about the need for “heavy transport” for the capital, without naming the tramway.
Bruno Marchand does not hide his fear of seeing the Quebec government turn its back on his project to launch into consultations on mobility in the capital, as he has let it dangle since the defeat in Jean-Talon’s election.
We need the green light from Quebec no later than the end of November according to Mr. Marchand. The Alstom company, which won the tender for the rolling stock, is waiting for a clear signal to start production of the wagons.
“Alstom cannot wait and say to itself that maybe the project will not see the light of day, maybe it will be buses, maybe a metro, a flying tram or a Tarzan rope,” said the mayor.