The Liberals bring back the idea of ​​a dynamic path on the Pierre-Laporte bridge

Alexandre Shields Le Devoir The idea of ​​creating a dynamic lane on the bridge Pierre-Laporte, who will be debated during the general council, is also supported by the mayor of Quebec, Bruno Marchand, Québec solidaire and the Parti québécois. The Legault government, however, rejected it.

While the CAQ government is resurrecting the third highway link project, activists from the Liberal Party of Quebec (PLQ) are reactivating the idea of ​​a dynamic lane on the Pierre-Laporte bridge and proposing to think about a transport company common in Quebec and Lévis.

Liberal activists will meet at the general council in Drummondville this weekend. The rules for the leadership race, which will take place in 2025, will then be officially revealed. As wroteLe Devoirlast September, the spending limit, set at $500,000 in 2020, will be lowered this time. The number of member signatures to be collected will be greater than the 1,000 needed three years ago.

In addition to the race, the debates must focus on a series of proposals formulated by members of the PLQ . The party's political committee decided to focus its framework resolution around two angles: housing and sustainable mobility.

On this last subject, liberal activists propose in particular to develop and offer “a single digital payment platform and a universal card for public transport for all of Quebec”, we read in the notebook which was given to the participants of the general council.

In the national capital, where the third highway link project is making waves, liberal activists wish to assess the relevance of a merger between the Réseau de transports de la Capitale and the Société de transport de Lévis. They also suggest “deploying a global vision of structuring and inter-river transport”, with the support of experts.

Among the elements to consider, they note the redevelopment of the bridgeheads, the increase of the offer of the Québec-Lévis ferry (by extending services to the east, for example) and “the creation of a dynamic route on the Pierre-Laporte bridge.”

This last idea is also supported by the mayor of Quebec, Bruno Marchand, Québec solidaire and the Parti québécois. However, this is an option that the Legault government rejected.

Mediation with the president of the youth wing

The PLQ general council will open on Saturday in a climate of tension. The only candidate for leadership, Frédéric Beauchemin, was excluded from the Liberal caucus because he is the subject of a complaint of psychological harassment. The member for Marguerite-Bourgeoys, who refutes the allegations concerning him, will be present in Drummondville during the weekend. The complaint against Mr. Beauchemin was allegedly made by the president of the party's youth wing, Élyse Moisan. She is also at the heart of a conflict with members of the PLQ youth executive, who in turn accuse her of having established a toxic work climate. According to our information, a mediation process has been set up by the party, in the hope of resolving this crisis as quickly as possible.

The return of the TGV

PLQ activists also propose commissioning an updated study on a high-speed train (TGV) linking Quebec to Toronto, another project supported by Mayor Marchand. In 2017, former Liberal leader Philippe Couillard caused controversy by rejecting the idea of ​​a train — not as “modern,” according to him, as a large project like a monorail — before having to review his position in this subject.

To curb the housing crisis, the Liberals are putting forward an “exemption from the QST for residential construction” as long as the market has not returned to more than a 3% rate. vacancy. Ottawa is currently proposing to eliminate the GST, but on the construction of new housing intended for rental only.

The resolutions are a way for liberal activists to assert their priorities. These are not binding, but can inspire the PLQ political commission when developing the electoral platform.