Duhaime and Marchand clash over Quebec City tramway

QUEBEC CITY: Conservative Party of Quebec Leader Éric Duhaime and Quebec City Mayor Bruno Marchand traded barbs on Wednesday over the city’s planned tramway, days after Duhaime’s party made gains in the Quebec City region in the provincial election.

Duhaime called for a moratorium on the project until final costs are known, according to Le Soleil. He said the government should be asked how much it is prepared to spend before billions more are committed.

“Is it prudent to wait to know before continuing to inject billions?” Duhaime said on Radio-Canada’s Première Heure and at a press briefing, as reported by Le Soleil.

Marchand responded at city hall, accusing Duhaime of spreading falsehoods about the project. “If Mr. Duhaime wants to gain credibility, he will have to gain rigour,” the mayor said.

The planned rapid transit network is valued at $7.6 billion, Le Soleil reported.

Marchand said the facts would be restated each time it was needed. “He does not have the power to make us back down. It’s impossible,” he said of Duhaime.

Duhaime, who is the new member of the National Assembly for Bellechasse, credited his opposition to the tramway for part of his party’s showing in the capital. Le Soleil reported that the Conservatives won six of nine ridings in Quebec City in Monday’s vote.

Marchand disputed that reading of the results. He said the Conservatives and their candidates took 36 per cent of the vote in the Capitale-Nationale region, and argued that the remaining 64 per cent went to parties that supported the tramway. He also noted that his own party, Québec forte et fière, won 18 of 21 council districts in the municipal election almost a year ago.

The exchange turned personal later in the day. Duhaime objected on Radio-Canada’s Téléjournal Québec to Marchand describing his MNAs as a “tribu,” a word the mayor used to describe the state of relations with the party. Marchand has said those ties are in poor shape.

“At some point, Mayor Marchand and I will have to act like adults,” Duhaime said.

The dispute now turns on how the incoming government handles the project. Marchand said Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon will keep the campaign commitment to the city’s Plan CITÉ, according to Le Soleil. Canada News Media has not independently confirmed that commitment, and the new government had not released a formal position in the coverage reviewed.

Le Journal de Québec reported on Friday that Minister Lightbound said the tramway must keep moving forward. The headline quoted him as saying “we are not going back.” Radio-Canada also published an explainer on the project’s costs, construction and public acceptance.

Duhaime has also been in the news this week after Elon Musk said Quebec should separate from Canada. Le Journal de Montréal reported on Saturday that Musk had phoned Duhaime. Canada News Media has not independently confirmed the details of that call.

The tramway has been a central point of dispute in Quebec City politics for years. Final costs and construction timelines remain at issue, and the story is developing as the new government settles in.

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Via Le Soleil: Tramway: des faussetés enveniment la relation entre Duhaime et Marchand.