Legault defends broken promise on 3rd link project for Quebec City area

Faced with frustration frommembers of his caucusand voters, Quebec Premier Franois Legaultis defending his government's decision to scrap plans to build a third link for automobilesbetween Quebec City and Lvis on thesouth shore.

Last week, Transport Minister Genevive Guilbaultannounced that the third link would be reserved for public transportation only and not be open to drivers a major about-face on one of the key promises from Coalition Avenir Qubec in back-to-back election campaigns.

In the 2022 election, the party secured 16 of the 18 seats in the Quebec City region.

Guilbault insistedthe government now hasdata that made it clear that a tunnelfor cars and truckswas no longer the way to go.

On Tuesday, Legault attempted to take all the blame for the broken promise.

"I'm the one who made the decision. I own it," Legault said while meeting with reporters at the National Assembly on Tuesday.

"I won't apologize for making the best decision for Quebecers, even if it is a difficult decision."

The revised third link project is still short on details at this point, but it is expected to be cheaper than the $6.5-billion price tag that was attached to the CAQ's original plan.

The new timeline is also unclear.Legault expresseda desire for the new project to progress as quickly as possible.

Earlier in the day, Legaultheld a special meeting to hear from local caucus members expressing the fury of their constituents over the government's announcement.

Heading into the meeting, backbencher Jean-Franois Simard saidthat he wanted to convey to the premier"the anger that is brewing inside me.'' Another MNA,Stphanie Lachance, said that in her riding"some are angry, some are disappointed, and some are downright furious.''

Opposition parties have seized on the issue, accusing the Coalition Avenir Qubecgovernment of deceiving voters in the October election to win support in the capital region.

Parti QubcoisLeader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon said Legaulttreated voters as "political merchandise,'' adding that he would table a bill to allow for the recall of politicians who break election promises.

ric Duhaime, the leader of the Conservative Party of Quebec, launched a petition at the National Assembly calling for the resignation of ric Caire, the province's minister of cybersecurity and digital technology.

Caire, whorepresents the Quebec City-area riding of La Peltrie,had said during the 2018 campaign that he would resign if his party didn't deliver the third link project that it proposed.

Last week, Bernard Drainville, the education minister and the MNA for Lvis, held back tears while apologizing to his constituents and other residents in region, saying "I made a commitment and I am not able to deliver on it."

WATCH| Lvis MNA Bernard Drainville apologizes to constituents:

Bernard Drainville apologizes to constituents over third link

1 year ago

Duration 1:00

The Coalition Avenir Qubec's Bernard Drainville issued an emotional apology on Thursday after the government backtracked on part of its promise to build a highway for cars under the St. Lawrence River.