The Ministry of Transport did not carry out a study on economic security in order to justify the construction of a third link between Quebec and Lévis. Without proof to support him, minister Geneviève Guilbault believes that this is “evidence”.
The Legault government justifies the construction of a new link estimated at several billion dollars between Quebec and Lévis by pleading economic security.
However, no study was carried out on this subject by the Ministry of Transport in order to support this theory.
“Do you have studies on economic security that supports your argument?” asked the solidarity Etienne Grandmont to Minister Guilbault during the study of MTQ budgetary credits on Wednesday.
“Well, that’s obvious,” she said, confirming that no study had been carried out and that no firm had been mandated to study this issue.
“In all 8000 pages, it is in filigree in several places. The merchandise cannot pass on a bridge other than Pierre-Laporte and when we speak to companies in the region, for many it is obvious, “added the minister.
The solidarity argued that it was an “empirical evaluation” which is not based on any scientific argument.
In order to defend herself, the Minister said that the CDPQ study is mentions economic security in a paragraph on the third link.
Again, the solidarity Etienne Grandmont reminded him that the fund reported in this short extract that it was not his mandate to study this question.
“It is above all generalized evidence,” said Geneviève Guilbault again.
Things upside down
For the moment, $ 36 million have been spent for studies on the third link and $ 106.4 million have been hired by the Legault government for the project. The corridor which will be chosen by the government will be revealed shortly, confirmed the minister.
The deputy for Taschereau told the Minister that the government seemed to do “things upside down” in this project, choosing a corridor before ensuring real needs.
He recalls that the Quebec Road Infrastructure maintenance deficit is enormous and exceeds $ 10 billion. He criticizes the government which wishes to build new links, while it struggles to take care of existing infrastructure.
