Tramway: Duclos invites Guilbault and Marchand to a “work meeting”

Federal Minister Jean-Yves Duclos closes the door to Quebec’s request to renegotiate the agreement on financing the Quebec tramway, but he invites the Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Geneviève Guilbault, and the mayor of Quebec, Bruno Marchand, at a meeting on the project.

On Tuesday, Geneviève Guilbault threw a wrench into the pond by affirming that she wanted to renegotiate the agreement on tramway financing, which was signed with Ottawa in 2018. A source within the Trudeau government strongly criticized this position. from the minister, accusing Quebec of putting itself “flat on its stomach” in front of the Conservative Party of Pierre Poilievre, first in the polls and which would not put a penny into the tramway project.

In a letter sent late Friday evening, Jean-Yves Duclos indicates that he would be unproductive to renegotiate the 2018 agreement. He invites the mayor of Quebec and the Minister of Transport to a work meeting to discuss federal funding for the project.

As the next federal election approaches, however, I propose that we agree on a common position to demand a commitment from the main federal political parties that the federal funds of almost $1.5 billion currently reserved for the tramway project of the City of Quebec are not confiscated by the end of the work planned for 2033he writes.

I also propose that we discuss together how the national capital could benefit from the additional annual and recurring federal funds of $3 billion in public transportation funding across the country, funds which will be accessible from 2026-2027.

Guilbault reacts

Opposition parties in the National Assembly took aim at Minister Guilbault on Wednesday, accusing her of harming Quebec City’s tram project. PQ MP Pascal Paradis accused him of being a victim of his own “turpitude” in this matter.

The opposition parties agree with us: it is up to the federal government to be in solution mode to secure their own financial contribution.reacted Geneviève Guilbault on the social network I would add that it is also up to the federal government to respect its own promise to finance 40% of the total cost of the project.she adds.