QUESTION PERIOD — Public Services and Procurement
Purchase of Quebec Bridge
May 21, 2024
Senator Gold, why is the Government of Canada buying the Quebec City rail bridge — which is an intraprovincial bridge providing a rail link connecting Quebec City with the other side of the St. Lawrence River, all of which is located exclusively in Quebec — with $1 billion announced to repair and maintain the structure?
Thank you for the question. My understanding is that the plans and desire to acquire this bridge have been a long‑standing priority of the Government of Canada which was finally able to be realized recently. It will not be the only such bridge owned by the federal government. Beyond that, I don’t have the full history of the plan, but it has been a long-standing priority to acquire it.
Senator Gold, why is the Government of Canada, according to Minister Duclos, making a policy exception and only requiring the Province of Quebec to pay 25% of the $1‑billion cost, with the federal government covering 60% and the Canadian National Railway, or CN, providing the remaining 15%? This is more than the normal 50 cents on every dollar offered for most infrastructure programs. Why is this exception being made?
Thank you for the question. Again, I don’t have the details of the negotiations that went into this, so I’m afraid I’m not in a position to respond to the question.
