It doesn’t matter that the federal Liberals are not there on their commitment to finance 40% of the tramway project, or that the Quebec Conservatives and their leader affirm that they will not put a penny into the tramway, Minister Jonatan Julien has the firm intention of delivering the project.
“It’s a project we care about and we’re moving forward with it. I cannot go further than that or be more affirmative than that,” the Minister of Infrastructure and responsible for the Capitale-Nationale region underlined in an interview on the subject of the tramway project.
The political lieutenant of the Conservatives in Quebec, Pierre Paul-Hus, said yesterday Journal that his government would not put a penny into the project, not even the promised amounts.
“I would find it difficult to understand,” replies Mr. Julien, “how a federal government, in relation to the foundations of this project, in terms of mobility and economic development, does not support this project.”
The minister also maintains that the federal Liberals are not respecting their commitment to finance 40% of the project costs, revised upwards. “But I’m not going to shy away from my pleasure, we’re moving forward,” he said.
As to whether Quebec could finance the project alone, Mr. Julien refuses to comment, affirming that these are hypothetical scenarios.
Credibility deficit
I also wanted to know why we should believe the CAQ government, this time, when it claims to want to build the tramway, after all the changes it has made. I pointed out his credibility deficit on this subject. He says he is well aware that people are cynical.
“Yes, we have to rebuild trust,” he admits (…) But here, we are well underway,” he says, referring to the final agreement with the City and the CDPQi.
The minister emphasizes that the project is not only based on mobility objectives. He does not go as far as Mayor Bruno Marchand, who speaks of “mini-James Bay”, but Mr. Julien sees it “clearly an economic development tool”.
We are far from his position in 2022, where he told journalists, regarding social acceptability for the project, that support of 50% plus one was needed for the tramway.
We will in fact be able to judge the real desire of this government to carry out the project in the way in which its ministers will defend it to the federal government, precisely, over the next year. To be continued.
No blocked project
On the third link, Mr. Julien is, here too, aware of the cynicism. He assures that he believes in it and that the project will come to fruition, even if it will be after the 2026 elections.
The minister fails to justify why his government goes against the conclusions of the CDPQi report, and according to which the project is not justified for reasons of mobility, and would only shift congestion to the north shore .
Faithful to the party line, he raises the argument of economic security, which however finds no scientific basis.
As for the very real risks that the vagueness surrounding the project, since we are starting from scratch both in terms of location and method, blocks the progress of other projects, he is categorical. There is no question that it will harm phase 4 of the Samuel-De Champlain promenade, he repeated, nor the reconversion of the Dufferin highway into an urban boulevard, he assures.
Again, we can judge by the results.
Defense of its balance sheet
The minister yesterday wanted to defend his party’s record in the region. He lists the Mont-Sainte-Anne file, which was settled before the holidays, the Île-d’Orléans bridge, the renewal of the National Capital Fund which will allow $25 million to be injected over four years in Quebec, the Nordic Institute which is under construction and programs to build more affordable housing.
The problem is that this record remains slim. It is also obviously obscured by the never-ending transport files.
Mr. Julien, however, refuses to admit that his government could be clearly responsible for this situation. He considers that the economy is doing well in Quebec.
“Regis [Labeaume] took me into politics because he changed the nation’s capital. For this to continue, we must not let go of other projects.”
Saint-Roch district
Speaking of other projects, Minister Julien also says he is concerned about the state of the Saint-Roch district. He observes that there are more than the signals necessary to demonstrate the urgency of action, with the important banners leaving.
The former vice-president of the executive committee, however, believes that the idea of ensuring that the Saint-Roch district is maintained is “an everyday job” and that “it goes through the City”.
“We have to work with traders every week,” he explains, “and often it is these people who provide solutions (…) The ecosystem is there, but to maintain it, we must be in contact with these people.”
He considers that his government is making the necessary efforts, particularly on the issue of homelessness. He is now eagerly awaiting the City’s plan, promised by the mayor for the coming weeks.
