Parti québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon announced on Friday that breaking ground on a third link in the Quebec region during a first mandate is completely unrealistic, stating that any party promising a tunnel or a link on the Île d’Orléans is lying to the public. During a presentation of the party’s priorities for the Capitale-Nationale on Friday, St-Pierre Plamondon stated that his own party’s project dedicated to public transit is not currently in the works, while also criticizing the Coalition Avenir Québec government and Conservative Leader Éric Duhaime over transit proposals.
Third Link Plans Pushed Back to 2035 Under Caisse Planning
The Parti québécois prefers to follow the Cité plan, which schedules a public transit tunnel for the third phase of the project based on planning by the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec. According to plans from CDPQ Infra, this specific portion of the project is slated to be implemented starting in 2035. St-Pierre Plamondon emphasized that following the established Caisse schedule is the correct path forward for regional infrastructure.
St-Pierre Plamondon did not hold back in his assessment of political rivals on Friday. He accused the CAQ government of outright misleading the population on the third link file and targeted Quebec Conservative Leader Éric Duhaime, labeling him a champion of proposals with zero chance of realization.
Public Transit Proposals and Traffic Relief Measures
To reduce time lost in regional congestion, the Parti québécois is focusing heavily on public transit initiatives rather than immediate highway megaprojects. Key proposals include increasing both the frequency and the total number of buses in circulation throughout the region. The party also intends to prioritize the completion of phase 1 of the tramway project alongside the early planning stages of the Cité plan’s first segment.
This transit strategy incorporates a Bus Rapid Transit system along the boulevard Charest axis linked to another BRT in Lévis on boulevard Guillaume-Couture. Additional measures under consideration include a dynamic seventh lane on the Pierre-Laporte bridge, lowering the deck of the Quebec Bridge, and redesigning the access points and traffic lanes of the Félix-Leclerc autoroute. St-Pierre Plamondon maintained that this clear offering would successfully reduce congestion levels on the roads of Quebec City within a four-year window.
Did You Know? According to the timeline outlined by CDPQ Infra, the public transit tunnel portion of the Cité plan is scheduled to be put in place starting in 2035.
Economic Development, Housing, and Regional Investments
Beyond transit, the Parti québécois outlined broader regional priorities for the Capitale-Nationale during Friday’s press briefing. The party aims to make homelessness a primary focus for Quebec City by improving housing access with the assistance of regional organizations. Economically, the formation wants to position the city as a major hub for automation, robotisation, artificial intelligence, and digital technologies.
The sovereignist formation also pledged to reclaim control of the Mont Sainte-Anne resort. St-Pierre Plamondon called it unreasonable for the National Assembly to have funneled millions of dollars into a private promoter’s hands in exchange for minimal reliability. The party committed to studying and participating in a football stadium project on the site of the former Colisée de Québec, drawing a parallel to the one billion dollars invested in a stadium in Montreal under the principle of investment equity.
Frequently Asked Questions
When would a third link be built under the Parti québécois?
Paul St-Pierre Plamondon stated that a first shovel in the ground for a third link is entirely unrealistic within the first four years of a mandate, noting that the party intends to follow the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec planning which schedules the public transit tunnel phase starting in 2035.
What public transit measures is the party proposing for Quebec City?
The party proposes increasing bus frequency and numbers, prioritizing phase 1 of the tramway project, establishing Bus Rapid Transit systems on boulevard Charest and boulevard Guillaume-Couture in Lévis, considering a dynamic seventh lane on the Pierre-Laporte bridge, lowering the Quebec Bridge deck, and redesigning the Félix-Leclerc autoroute.
What are the Parti québécois’s other regional priorities for the Capitale-Nationale?
Priorities include tackling homelessness with regional organizations, developing economic hubs in automation, AI, and digital technologies, taking back control of Mont Sainte-Anne, and studying the construction of a football stadium on the Colisée de Québec site.
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