Gatineau wants feds to foot the bill for Ottawa’s side of tramway

Taylor Clark

Gatineau aims to see federal funding roll out this fall for the complete amount of Ottawa’s portion of the tramway, creating a precedent for the Government of Canada.

“I think we are aligned as never before for the tramway. And for my part, I will do everything to make it happen,” said Mayor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette.

The tramway project entered a new phase in late June when the federal and provincial governments jointly invested $163.5 million to set the planning stage into motion on the Quebec side. The Government of Quebec covered 60 per cent of the cost while the remaining funds fell to the federal government.

Lacking from the announcement was the funding for the two kilometres of tramway line set for the other side of the river.

“There was a consensus that this portion belongs to the federal government,” said Marquis-Bissonnette.

The one-stop shop for transportation expertise, MOBI-O, launched an e-petition in May calling for the Government of Canada to fund the preliminary studies for Ottawa’s side of the tramway. Having surpassed the minimum 500 signatures to earn final certification, the petition will be verified once it closes before making its way to the House of Commons.

“It’s up to us to take this on. It’s up to us to say that we need this. And that was missing in the last few years.”

As public transportation projects are historically split between the federal and provincial governments, completely footing the bill would be a first for the Government of Canada.

The Mayor added, “We're going to work very hard to convince the federal government that this project, without the missing two kilometres, doesn't have the same value and that it's a project that's essential for transportation, for quality of life, for climate change, too.”