$91B pledged in next decade
Lion’s share of funding being allocated to roads, transit, schools and health care
The government tabled its Quebec Infrastructure Plan Tuesday, promising to invest $91 billion over 10 years to restore its dilapidated structures and create new ones, particularly in the realm of public transit.
Infrastructure spending for 20172018 is pegged at $9.6 billion, a significant increase over 10 years ago, when average expenditure in rehabilitation and creation was less than half that amount. The lion’s share of the expenditures will go to health and social services (19 per cent of the $91 billion); the road network (19 per cent) and education and research (18 per cent). Public transit and other transportation-related investments will take up 11 per cent of funding. Among the highlights:
EDUCATION
$400 million over four years for deficient buildings, with the Commission scolaire de Montréal singled out for particular consideration (the school board, Quebec’s largest, has complained that successive years of compressions have forced it to cut $1 billion from its budget, and that some of its schools were so poorly maintained they had to be closed because they were deemed health risks);
$400 million over three years for the addition of classrooms and expansion of schools to meet space needs;$100 million to promote digital technologies.
OTHER FIELDS
$200 million to improve infrastructure in the health network, particularly to expand emergency rooms and add specialized equipment;
Nearly $150 million for sports and recreational infrastructure, particularly to renovate and build soccer and baseball fields, pools and sports centres;
$200 million to build 3,000 new social housing units;
$90 million invested in the Quebec-branché (Quebec-connected) program to install digital infrastructure across the province.
In public transit, the government said it was prioritizing the extension of the Blue Line of Montreal’s métro system, but did not commit any dollar figures to the plan. It noted that Montreal wants work to begin by 2021. Also highlighted were the Réseau électrique métropolitain light rail system projected for Montreal, and a rapid bus transit system in Quebec City.
Michel Leblanc, president of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal, said the business community welcomed the announcements, but added that Montreal is at the limit of what it can stand in terms of infrastructure projects.
“The increase in Quebec’s infrastructure plan is welcome, but I’m not sure that on the island of Montreal we can do more. Eventually we will have to rebuild the Metropolitan Expressway, but please finish the Turcot Interchange before you do that.”
The Union of Quebec Municipalities said the infrastructure investments were a “positive sign,” especially considering that 60 per cent of infrastructure in the province falls under municipal jurisdiction.
Announcements of aid for sport facilities were especially appreciated, as they are a priority for many cities.
Also welcomed, said Alexandre Cusson, the vice-president of the UMQ and mayor of Drummondville, was the federal government’s pledge last week to cover 40 per cent of infrastructure costs.
“From Quebec we are expecting the same contribution,” Cusson said.