Legault rejects Quebec City's latest tramway plan, taps Caisse de dépôt to study options
City had proposed taking charge of project, relying on province to fund 50%
The Legault government has refused Quebec City's latest plan for its long-awaited tramway project.
Quebec City Mayor Bruno Marchand met with Premier François Legault Wednesday to present an $8.4-billion Plan B to complete the tramway project, with the city as a prime contractor and the province covering 50 per cent of the costs.
This came after the city put an end to the call for tenders when the only remaining bidder was unable to submit a financial proposal for the project due to a lack of funding.
However, Legault didn't go for it.
"It's not the option he's going to choose. Obviously, I'm disappointed," said Marchand following the meeting, saying his proposal was credible and carefully studied.
The mayor said he and Legault both agree on one point: the city needs a major transit network.
On Wednesday, Transport Minister Geneviève Guilbault announced the government would be turning to the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec. The entity that spearheaded the REM, Montreal's new light-rail train network, through its subsidiary CDPQ Infra, is now being asked to produce a study within six months and come up with recommendations for a public transit project.
Mixed reaction among politicians
Québec Solidaire MNA, Étienne Grandmont, says Legault is once again breaking promises.
Grandmont represents the city's Taschereau riding and has long been an advocate of the tramway.
He says he understands that Quebec City residents have good reasons to be disappointed.
"Under his government, no major projects have been carried out in the last five years," said Grandmont.
Jackie Smith, the city councillor for Limoilou who also leads the Transition Québec party, says she's also disappointed because a lot of preparatory work had already started on the project.
She said this project had been studied for 15 years and the CAQ was elected on a pro-tramway platform.
"Suddenly put[ting] the brakes on this project is unacceptable," said Smith.
Conservative Party of Quebec leader Éric Duhaime, took to X, formerly known as Twitter, saying it's "excellent news and a victory for citizens, users and taxpayers in Quebec City. Congratulations to all those who stood up against this useless and costly project."
'We need an efficient major transit network,' says Guilbault
Speaking to journalists Wednesday, Quebec's transport minister talked about the plan to work with the Caisse and reiterated that the provincial capital needs "an efficient major transit network that will convince people to use it."
"So, we start with that need, and in six months maximum, the Caisse will make the assessment and come up with the best project for the best price," Guilbault said.
She said the options will include the version Marchand presented.
with files from CBC's Émilie Warren, Rachel Watts and Radio-Canada