Construction of the Quebec tramway: Wendake wants his piece of the pie

The Huron-Wendat nation demands that its companies participate in the construction of the Quebec tramway.

The great chef, Pierre Picard, asks insurance from CDPQ Infra, which acts as project manager for the project, that the Huron-Wendat companies will obtain contracts.

The indigenous leader recalls that the Quebec tramway will be deployed on the ancestral territory of the First Nation, and therefore that it must be duly consulted.

I want to avoid the “oops, we forgot”. I don’t want this, because the nation doesn’t deserve itexplains Pierre Picard in an interview with Espaces nationaux.

Pierre Picard recalls that the First Nations have been ignored on numerous occasions in the realization of projects of this kind.

He takes the example of the construction of the Île d’Orléans bridge, during which the concerns and economic development interests of the Wendat nation were ignored, according to him.

There have been precedents throughout Canada, there have been precedents throughout Quebec, there have also been some unfortunately for the Wendat nationsays the great chef.

I want to avoid that at all costs.

A meeting is also planned for January between the leaders of CDPQ Infra and the big boss, who says he sees an openness on the part of the project manager.

I will ensure that our archaeological and economic concerns are not only considered, but also certainly prioritized in the deployment of this project.explains Pierre Picard.

The Wendat elected official specifies that it is too early to determine which Huron-Wendat companies could be involved in the construction of the tramway and how they could do it.

Will private or Wendat companies be called upon for construction? Will it be in retail? Will it be in terms of building, transport, construction? We are not capable today of assessing either the needs or the requirementshe explains.

For its part, CDPQ Infra assures in writing that the channels of communication with the Huron-Wendat nation are open.

As part of the planning and construction of the TramCité, we remain and will remain attentive to the expectations of the communities so that the project benefits everyone.assures Michelle Lamarche, director, media relations and digital content at CDPQ Infra.

At the time of publishing these lines, the Ministry of Transport had not responded to our questions.