Feds greenlight funding for tramway studies

Taylor Clark

Canada’s Minister of Transport Pablo Rodriguez has confirmed federal funding for studies to develop a tramway between Gatineau and Ottawa after probing from Bloc Québécois MP Xavier Barsalou-Duval. “I would like to know today if you can tell us about this famous good news for the continuation of the project that everyone would like to see to decongest the Outaouais region,” Barsalou-Duval questioned Rodriguez during the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities meeting on March 21.

Barsalou-Duval pointed to Rodriguez’s statement in November 2023 where he indicated good news in terms of funding for studies would be announced in the upcoming weeks. “The Government of Quebec is committed; the (Société de transport de l’Outaouais) is committed; the Ville de Gatineau is committed; we’re just missing the federal government. We can’t wait to see it for real,” said Barsalou-Duval.

Rodriguez admitted his statement was premature but said discussions have continued with Quebec’s Minister of Transport Geneviève Guilbault. “We are working on funding. There need to be studies first and we would be financing those studies,” said Rodriguez.

Acting Gatineau mayor Daniel Champagne was joined by the president of the conseil d’administration of the Société de transport de l’Outaouais (STO) Jocelyn Blondin to discuss the future of the project with representatives of MOBI-O and Vivre en Ville on March 27. “We will continue with the Coalition S’allier pour le tramway and our partners to put pressure on the federal government so that funding is confirmed in the April 16 budget,” MOBI-O wrote on Facebook.

Rodriguez’ comments came as a positive signal to the STO. Vice-president of the conseil d’administration Edmund Leclerc told reporters on March 28 it was a sign the federal government understood and recognized the need to continue studies to provide the region with a tramway. “Since last summer, the project office has picked up the pace to be ready to initiate all the processes. When we have the official funding announcement, we will be ready. And I confirm that we are already ready at this time to move forward with the next steps. We just need official confirmation,” said Leclerc.

In the meantime, the STO will carry out field surveys this spring to fill the cracks in environmental impact studies.

Photo caption: The Société de transport de l’Outaouais offers a development concept for the tramway project on boulevard du Plateau.

Photo credit: Société de transport de l’Outaouais Rapport 6