Since the CAQ came to power, transport cases that have turned into psychodrama in the Quebec City region have been piling up. We must now add that of the Quebec Bridge.
It is difficult to understand the reasons which push the Government of Quebec, the main user of the Quebec Bridge, to rebel once morest having to pay more rent to the federal government for the bridge, if the latter acquires the infrastructure.
In fact, the Government of Quebec refused to acquire the bridge. Then, he pays rent to use it since 1947. Since 1993, this rent is paid to CN, which owns it, but which has not maintained it as it should.
The infrastructure is rusting, and de-icing salts are damaging it, which is why Quebec has also undertaken to replace the bridge deck. It is therefore urgent to act to carry out work estimated at $784 million over 25 years.
Expected outcome
The Quebec Bridge remains vital and essential for the Quebec region, whether or not there will be a third link further east in the future. The solution advocated by many stakeholders in the file, for several years, was the purchase of the bridge by the federal government, which finally agreed. The Trudeau government therefore appointed a negotiator, the former CEO of Industrial Alliance, Yvon Charest.
For three years, this credible and respected businessman has worked hard to resolve the impasse, and succeeded. Against all odds, the two parties have finally come to an agreement. The Quebec Bridge would therefore be saved!
All that is missing is the Quebec Accord, which has a right of first refusal. Quebec can, by virtue of this right, decide to match the offer, if it wants to become a buyer. But even if this is not the case, Quebec is brazen and does not want to pay for the repair of the bridge.
However, CN has agreed to assume part of the costs, as has the federal government, which will invest two dollars for each dollar paid by Quebec. It is quite normal for the rent in Quebec to increase when work of this magnitude is underway.
According to my information, Quebec should add no more than five million dollars a year to the seven million it currently pays in rent. It is very little for the Quebec state. And then what is the future of the bridge, if the federal government cannot acquire it, CN does not maintain it properly and Quebec does not want more?
Considering its importance, the origin and the destination of the users of the bridges (from west to west), one cannot just say: let’s destroy it and make a third link.
Third link
You would have to be blind not to have noticed that the CAQ has been repeating for months that the two bridges (Quebec and Laporte) are aging and that therefore, it takes a tunnel.
The government is trying by all means to justify its plan, which is also flawed. The federal government is not fooled. Neither does Mr. Charest, one suspects. Meanwhile, the Quebec Bridge, an architectural symbol of the region, continues to rust and deteriorate.
The costs of the tram have increased because the CAQ turned once morest the project. She will continue to do so even more following the election, if she obtains the strong mandate that the polls predict. As for the third link, it remains just as vague and hypothetical.
Frankly, the Quebec region has certainly never been so poorly served.
