The Legault government will give the green light to the continuation of the tramway project, with or without a shared street, but on one condition: that the mayor of Quebec, Bruno Marchand, demonstrates that his choices are supported by “a majority of citizens”.
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Should a referendum be held? “It is not up to the Government of Quebec to decide how it ensures that it has the support of the population,” Premier François Legault dropped on Tuesday.
“It will be up to the mayor of Quebec to decide how he does that,” he added, on the eve of the adoption of the long-awaited decrees by the City of Quebec.
Without these government authorizations, the Marchand administration cannot launch calls for proposals for the infrastructure and rolling stock components of the tramway project, in which more than $250 million have already been spent, out of a total budget that is now close to four billion. $.
And how to measure this social acceptability? “Minimally it’s 50% + 1,” launched the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Jonatan Julien, after leaving the Blue Room. “It’s at least a majority of citizens,” he explained.
change of tone
Contrary to what many had learned from the quarrel through the media, everything suggests that the CAQ government will not force Mayor Marchand to back down on the development of a 500 m portion of René-Lévesque into a shared street, for the passage of the tram.
“The development and then the detail of the Quebec tramway is the responsibility of the City of Quebec”, admitted in a press briefing the Prime Minister, who was accused last week of making interference in an issue that falls within municipal jurisdiction.
“Our responsibility, then the responsibility of our deputies in Quebec, is to listen to the citizens, however added Mr. Legault. And that is why what we are going to ask the mayor of Quebec City is quite simply to ensure that there is social acceptability. »
Opposition parties have had enough
In the eyes of the opposition, the population has already been widely consulted regarding the tramway project.
“The social acceptability of the tramway project exists, considers the parliamentary leader of Québec solidaire, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois. The overwhelming majority of people in the Quebec region, in the last municipal elections, voted for parties that want a tramway. There was a public consultation. People want a tram. The business community wants it. Environmental groups want. At some point, what is François Legault missing? »
“I decode that social acceptability, which he is talking about, is social acceptability within his caucus, first and foremost. I do not think it is a general acceptability, commented on his side the liberal leader Dominique Angalde. Listen, the citizens of Quebec voted 70%, they voted for candidates for mayor who were in favor of the tramway. I think the message is very clear from the people of Quebec. »
For his part, the PQ MP Pascal Bérubé suspects the government of looking for a way “so as not to have to manage that during the election campaign”.
“It’s the fear of displeasing a certain very localized electorate in the Capitale-Nationale,” believes Mr. Bérubé.
Reference-www.journaldequebec.com