Geneviève Guilbault does not want CDPQ Infra to operate the Quebec tramway

Photo: Francis Vachon Le Devoir Quebec Minister of Transport Geneviève Guilbault during an interview with the editorial team of Le Devoir, May 3

Isabelle Porter in Quebec City

Published at 11:06

• Quebec City

The CDPQ Infra must take part in the construction of the Quebec City tramway project, but not in its operation, indicated Transport Minister Geneviève Guilbault, who is banking on a different model than that of the REM in Montreal.

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“For the REM, the Caisse is in charge of the operation, which will not be the case for the tramway,” the minister indicated Tuesday evening during an exchange in parliamentary committee.

Ms. Guilbault also indicated that this would “not be the case either” for the new Mobilité Infra Québec (MIQ) agency.

Operation would instead be the responsibility of the Réseau de transport de la capitale (RTC), which already manages the existing public transit network in Quebec City, she added. “We will probably give the operation to the transit company. The revenues will go back to it and it will manage the operation.”

“Mandate letter” imminent with CDPQ Infra on construction

In June, the government gave the green light to the CITÉ tramway project proposed by CDPQ Infra. However, he did not specify what exact role CDPQ Infra would play in the project.

Quebec is also about to unveil a “mandate letter” to CDPQ Infra that should allow the latter to restart work on the tramway construction site.

They will then have to sign a more elaborate agreement on what happens next. The government, CDPQ Infra and the City must agree on a governance model to manage the construction site.

The first phase of the project is expected to cost $5.27 billion. Quebec City Mayor Bruno Marchand wants construction to begin in 2025 with a view to commissioning in 2030.

Minister Guilbault is also under financial pressure since the federal government has earmarked funds for the tramway that could be at risk if an election is called and the Conservative Party of Canada, a notorious opponent of the project, wins.

More details to follow.