Abandon the REM: a threat to the transport structure in Quebec, prevents Fortin

Photo Simon Clark
The minister of Transport, André Fortin

Marc-André Gagnon

Tuesday, march 20, 2018 14:02

UPDATE
Tuesday, 20 march, 2018 18:35

Look at this article

Abandon the project of electrical Network metropolitan (REM), as proposed by the Parti québécois, would prevent the implementation of large transit projects, such as those of Quebec and Gatineau, according to the minister of Transport, André Fortin.

• READ ALSO: The Parti québécois would have to abandon the project of express Network metropolitan

Like the chief caquiste François Legault, the liberal minister of Transport has described as “irresponsible”, the proposal unveiled Tuesday by the head of the parti québecois Jean-François Lisée.

In addition to the penalties which would expose the government in sabordant the project of REM, Quebec also risk losing the investment of three billion dollars pledged by the Caisse de dépôt et placement, is afraid of Mr. Fortin.

Three billion in-game

“The Caisse invests$ 3 billion in a project of public transport in Quebec : that, never seen that before, and it is the sums that allow us to engage in more transit projects”, said the minister of Transport, recalling that the work will begin in a few weeks.

“If we don’t have this $ 3 billion from the amount spent in transit by the Caisse de dépôt, is what we would be able to do a project (network structuring) to Quebec? Is it that we would be able to do a large-scale development of public transit in Gatineau? Is it that we would be able to do more in the greater Montreal? I doubt it,” said the minister Fortin.

“I think that (the REM), this is a project that is great for Quebec, said in turn the president of the treasury Board, and liberal mp for Mont-Royal, Pierre Arcand. It is an innovative project that goes quite in the direction that one wants, that is to say reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, encouragement of public transportation, just as the project of Quebec.”

Lisée “hard to follow” according to Legault

“The first question I have for Jean-François Lisée : I hope that someone from his team, has assessed the penalties that would be attached to the cancellation of the REM, because the contract is given in good and due form following a submission international”, pointed to his side the leader of the Coalition avenir Québec, François Legault.

The chief caquiste took the opportunity to clarify its position on the local content in the project of REM. “There was never any question of re-opening the contract for the REM, which is already signed,” assured Mr. Legault.

“When I went to La Pocatière, I said : a government of the CAQ will try to negotiate with Alstom. […]. We are going to try to see […] (if) Alstom can give a part of the contract to Bombardier, La Pocatière.”