Couillard urges Ottawa to send ‘strong signal’ on transit in budget
With the costs of Montreal’s electric train topping the $6-billion mark, the province will be looking for a “very strong signal” in Wednesday’s budget that Ottawa is committed to funding public transit, Premier Philippe Couillard said Tuesday.
But Couillard has warned Ottawa to think twice before it gets into the business of selling off airports to the private sector to earn some quick cash. Other jurisdictions have made such forays with dubious results, he said.
“We are expecting a strong signal coming from Ottawa tomorrow when it comes to support for and federal participation in these projects,” Couillard said at a news conference at the legislature.
Specifically, the province is expecting federal help for three major projects: the Réseau électrique métropolitain (REM) train; an eastward extension of the métro’s blue line; and an express bus system between Quebec City and Lévis.
Couillard was cautious when asked how much he is expecting federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau to cough up in his budget, but said he made it clear to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau he expects a significant contribution.
On the REM, he noted the project is moving forward rapidly and cash will be needed soon. Work is scheduled to start by the end of 2017.
On Tuesday, the REM’s backer, the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, revealed the price tag of the project is now $140 million more than initially planned because of the addition of new stations and 40 more cars to increase frequency of service to meet demand.
The new total is over $6 billion. Couillard also indicated he’s expecting news on Ottawa’s pledge to create a Canadian infrastructure bank, which would in theory be located in Montreal and offer funds to the provinces and municipalities.
He noted the infrastructure bank was actually a Quebec idea and Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre is a strong supporter.
Ottawa’s budget will be followed rapidly by Quebec’s own budget March 28. Flanked by Quebec Finance Minister Carlos Leitão, Couillard said on the three transit projects Quebec will be “transparent,” and provide considerable details and a schedule for completion of the projects.
“We hope and wish to have the same degree of precision with the federal budget,” Couillard said. “In our case it will be quite easy to see.”
But Coalition Avenir Québec leader François Legault was skeptical on how much Quebec can get from Ottawa, considering that it didn’t get as much out of Ottawa as it wanted during recent negotiations on health transfers.
“Unfortunately, I fear this will be another failure for Mr. Couillard’s government,” Legault said. “Whenever Mr. Couillard is called upon to negotiate with Ottawa he becomes invisible. He becomes like a ghost, we barely hear a whisper.”