3rd Link: Quebecers Have The Right To Know

The MNA representing La Pinière and Liberal Critic for Transport and the Conseil du Trésor, Mr. Gaétan Barrette, wants Quebecers to have an accurate image of what is happening with the 3rd link project in Quebec City.

The MNA asked that the Transport and Environment Committee hear from the Québec-Lévis Tunnel Project’s Office Manager, Mr. Frédéric Pellerin, in order to obtain details related to this massive project funded by taxpayers’ money.

Recall that during the study of budget credits last spring, the Minister of Transport, Mr. François Bonnardel, denied Mr. Pellerin of an opportunity to speak before parliamentarians.

Quebecers have the right to know how much this is going to cost. The government needs to allow the Project Office to provide the population with all the pertinent information regarding this file. We are talking about a project worth billions of dollars. What data is the Minister using to inform his decision to draw the route for the 3rd Link to the East? What good is a project office if we can’t have access to its information? The government needs to show transparency and present the information that has been compiled to date.

– Gaétan Barrette, MNA representing Pinière and Liberal Critic for Transport and the Conseil du Trésor

The Minister of Transport knows that he will not be able to keep his promise, so he is looking for any possible issues that would allow him to backtrack the project. We saw an example of that yesterday when his position on the toll changed. The government’s lack of willingness to provide citizens with information about such an immense undertaking is just another sign that the project is in serious jeopardy. A 3rd Link is vital to Quebec City, but it has to be done in an intelligent manner. There is no room for improvisation here.

– Sébastien Proulx, MNA representing Jean-Talon and Liberal Critic for Municipal Affairs, Democratic Institutions and the Capitale-Nationale Region