Quebec City draws on its climate reserve to build refrigerated ice rinks

For the first time, the City of Quebec plans to draw nearly half of the funds invested in the climate reserve to finance the construction of covered and refrigerated ice rinks.

In its budget presented Wednesday, the City of Quebec announced that it will inject $45 million into its reserve for climate change, bringing this total to $90 million. However, the City will take $45 million from this amount in 2025 to finance the construction of anti-flood structures on the Lorette River as well as to finance the construction of refrigerated skating rinks.

This decision will mean that the City will not have a reserve of $300 million in 2028, as initially planned. The amounts that have been withdrawn from the fund will be deducted from this amount.

Bruno Marchand justifies the hasty disbursement of the climate reserve by theurgency to act and refuses to wait until 2028 or 2029 to withdraw funds.

Apprehending criticism from the opposition, Bruno Marchand affirmed that this is a fully accepted political choice and that it is justified to see young people moving earlier and longer in winter, even when there are upheavals from Mother Nature.

Adapting to climate change isn’t just about fixing pipes. It means ensuring that we are able to practice winter sports. Adapting to climate change means ensuring that people can go outside despite very changing winter conditions.

The amounts granted to the respective projects have not been revealed. The city’s general manager, Luc Monty, says he wants to maintain flexibility in investment projects during the year 2025.

The Marchand administration is staying the course on the construction of a refrigerated ice rink per district. The inauguration of the new covered and refrigerated outdoor skating rink in Victoria Park is scheduled for winter 2025. This project will ultimately have cost the City of Quebec $10.8 million rather than the $6 million initially planned.

In winter 2024, the outdoor rinks were open on a third of the days of activity due to the vagaries of the weather.

We can’t wait until 2028 or 2029

The mayor of Quebec estimates that the funds invested in the climate reserve since its creation in 2023 will generate more than $2 million in interest by the end of 2025. This interest will increase the capital of the reserve, supports Bruno Marchand.

We want to put money aside to use it when we need it. Climate change is grabbing us by the throat and we won’t wait [de subir] what other cities are experiencing before acting.

Frivolous

The leader of the official opposition at city hall, Claude Villeneuve, was quick to show his dissatisfaction with what he describes aspopular investment.

Yes, it is desired by people, but given the urgency and the expenses caused by climate change, it seems frivolous to us.he lamented at a press conference.

The head of Transition Québec, Jackie Smith, said disappointed that these funds be used to create refrigerated ice rinks. She was skeptical during the creation of the climate reserve, in 2023, an announcement that she described as poorly put together.