Federal Budget: the province of Quebec has high expectations in the field of transport infrastructure

News 24 February, 2018

Photo Simon Clark
Quebec has high expectations for the federal budget, which will be unveiled on Tuesday.

Marc-André Gagnon

Saturday 24 February 2018 16:52

UPDATE
Saturday, February 24, 2018 17:02

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WASHINGTON | this is for the extension of the blue line of the Montreal metro or the development of a new network of collective transport in the national capital, Quebec has high expectations for the federal budget, which will be unveiled on Tuesday.

“To enter into the second phase of the infrastructure program, federal, that, for us, it is a high priority”, said Saturday the prime minister Philippe Couillard.

The plan of infrastructure presented in the first budget of the Trudeau government planned investments of over$ 120 billion over 10 years across the country, but in two phases. The first was a budget of a little more than$ 10 billion. The details of the second phase are therefore very expected.

As regards the extension of the blue line of the Montreal metro, “I am very optimistic for a settlement fast,” said Mr. Couillard.

“Mr. Trudeau has said publicly that he wanted to invest in sustainable mobility in Quebec city”, has also reminded the prime minister of Quebec.

“I expect [so] […] it is a partner for the project for the mobility of Quebec”, he continued.

Other projects with the CDPQ?

The prime minister hoped in the future to the other transportation infrastructure projects coming up in the greater Montreal area, whether it be for the pink line to the mayor Valerie Plant, or potential projects the North Shore and the South Shore.

Mr. Couillard did not rule out the possibility that the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) to invest in these projects, as it has done with the express Network metropolitan (REM). No question, however, of sacrificing the independence of the Fund.

“There’s never going to tell the Cashier to participate, assured Mr. Couillard. However, they are free to study the various projects, and I remind you that, for them, the decision is a business decision. A project that is not commercially profitable, the Fund will not participate in it.”