The contours of the consultation promised by François Legault in the Quebec region remain unclear, but a CAQ minister suggested on Thursday that it will cast a wider net than just the third link to also cover the tramway.
Asked specifically about the latter during a press scrum, Benoit Charette reiterated the words spoken by his boss on Tuesday with regard to the tramway: it is a project of the City of Quebec and the government has been there to support him. “The next few weeks will include some new steps,” he added. We will simply be able to respond once these steps have been completed. »
The Minister of the Environment, however, clarified the desire of the CAQ troops to “consult the people of the greater Quebec region to see what solutions they wish to see put forward in terms of mobility.” In the past, certain CAQ elected officials have mentioned the importance of social acceptability for the tramway to see the light of day. The current minister responsible for the Capital, Jonatan Julien, put this acceptability at “minimum” 50% + 1.
The Prime Minister had rescinded it by ensuring that his cabinet gave the green light to the continuation of the tramway, on the condition that the mayor of Quebec, Bruno Marchand, ensures that “there is[it] a social acceptability which [soit] respected. »
Since then, the bill for the project has ballooned, its support has wavered and Jean-Talon’s electorate has inflicted a severe snub on the CAQ government. Minister Charette made a point of repeating on Tuesday that popular support remains, in the eyes of the government, “fundamental” for “undertaking important reforms. »
“I compare it to an elastic band,” he illustrated. If we want to undertake major reforms that do not generate support among the population, this is where we stretch the elastic and the more we stretch it, the more likely we are to break it. Once this elastic is broken, it is even more difficult to make these changes. In general – and I insist: I am not talking here about a particular project – when we want to impose a reform which does not generate support within the population, we have no chance of doing so. realize. »
Bruno Marchand calls for clear support
The mayor of Quebec, Bruno Marchand, twice this week asked for a clear message of support from the government. “It cannot be a project carried out alone by the mayor of Quebec. I need them others. The government must support the tramway, defend it and support it. He must make it a hobby horse,” pleaded the elected representative of the capital Thursday afternoon.
The resurrection of the third link in the public space makes him fear that other projects ready to get underway will be put in storage while waiting to know the outcome of the consultation requested by the CAQ.
“The debate on the third link cannot be to the detriment of the region’s priorities,” said the mayor of the capital. There are consequences to questioning what was decided. We risk wasting a lot of time to the disadvantage of fundamental projects for the city. »
Faced with the prospect of the government determining the fate of the tramway in light of its “major consultation”, Bruno Marchand is balking.
“If that is his intention, you understand that I will oppose it. When should we hold referendums? The question is a good one, said the mayor. Wouldn’t the government, if it held a referendum, put a Denver shoe on its ankle? I think so. After that, any major project, the eastern REM, the major hospitals, everything would have to be put to a vote. Who votes? If we build a dam in the north, who has a say? The indigenous communities concerned? Montreal is far away, but people will need this electricity: should they vote, too? I think, concluded the elected official, that there are elections for that. »
At the very least, the capital can count on firm support from Ottawa. The Minister of Public Services and Supplies, Jean-Yves Duclos, also a Liberal MP for Quebec, unambiguously supported the tramway on Thursday.
“There are currently cities that are arguing and bickering over federal funds, cities that would be very happy to be able to use this money to move forward with their own public transportation project,” explained the federal minister. . So there are two options: either we catch up with Quebec, the only city of comparable size in Canada without a modern and efficient public transportation network, or we let a lot of money go elsewhere in the country. »