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MONTREAL – Trudeau airport expects losses of $ 600 million this year, which raises doubts as to who will pay for the REM station.
Just over a year ago, the light rail station of the international airport was launched with great enthusiasm. It was intended to be a key link to the center.
But with the financial losses piling up the airport, which is now requesting a loan, the airport authority said negotiations with Quebec and Ottawa have been ongoing since June.
The province has no interest in helping, according to Federal Transport Minister Marc Garneau.
“We were disappointed to learn that the Quebec government withdrew from the Montreal airport station project after several months of working in partnership with our government,” he said in a statement.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Quebec’s transportation minister said the province has already donated more than $ 1 billion to the REM and said the airport can do more to make the project happen.
One of the Montreal entrepreneurs says he still has faith in the project that will be implemented.
“Clearly the REM concept was based on that station and the connection to the center,” said Michel Leblanc of the Montreal Chamber of Commerce.
“When people ask me ‘Are you nervous? Do you think there will be a REM without that station? I’m saying “No, I’m not nervous”.
But public transport advocates are wondering what this will mean for commuters.
“For commuters, it could lead to further delays in the project. There is already some delay due to the Mount Royal tunnel, ”said Francois Pepin of Trajectoire Quebec.
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