If Quebec has benefited from fewer federal subsidies for public transport than other provinces, it is because it was not quick enough to get the money from Ottawa, maintains Minister Jean-Yves Duclos .
The federal Liberal MP for Quebec and Minister of Supply, Jean-Yves Duclos, was called on Thursday to explain why Quebec received less than its share in public transportation, in comparison with provinces like Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia.
Ontario and Alberta faster
“Other provinces — and Ontario is an example — have moved faster than us in recent years,” he said. “Now we have to go faster.”
Concerning the Quebec tramway, he notes that “we took more time. We had delays, we had project changes. We were slower than other cities and other provinces.”
The minister recalls that according to the bilateral agreement signed with the government of Quebec, when Ottawa reserves funds for a project, it disburses these amounts upon presentation of invoices. “It’s not an ATM where you can take out the money beforehand, it’s a checking account where you pay, with bills, on investments that are made.”
-It is therefore not possible to reserve the sums to guarantee them before the next elections, in the perspective where a possible conservative government intends to tear up the promise signed with Quebec on the financing of $1.44 billion for the tram, he explains.
Not for 3e lien
Mr. Duclos, however, stressed that, contrary to what Pierre Poilievre promises, these funds could not be used for the third highway link, since they come from a standardized program which aims to finance public transport projects.
“The conservatives confuse everyone. In a democracy, Pierre Poilievre could decide to throw it all in the trash, tear up this agreement and pretend that he is going to use this money in 5, 10, 15 or 20 years for another project. But this money is supposed to be used for public transportation.”