Eric Girard

West end Mayors press Girard on Cavendish, Hippodrome

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Mayors from Côte St. Luc, St. Laurent and Town of Mount Royal recently met with Quebec Finance Minister Eric Girard to press the case for the long-awaited Cavendish link and for a proper mobility plan for the Hippodrome site, Councillor Dida Berku reported to CSL council.

Berku, who was also part of the meeting with Girard, pointed out that as far as back as 1962, there was an agreement between CSL, St. Laurent, TMR and Montreal to build Cavendish, but Quebec shifted the focus to the then-future Décarie Expressway.

Switching to the present, Berku said the meeting with Girard took place the week before the council meeting.

“Now that the federal election is over, the provincial and municipal leaders are scrambling for infrastructure money,” she pointed out. “The Mayors asked the Minister to respect the 2017 Hippodrome sale agreement [to include the Cavendish extension in the overall project], and to understand that even if infrastructure money was to come, that it should not be given unless it’s also attached to the Cavendish project.”

Berku said the Mayors also told Girard that the Hippodrome project, in which 20,000 homes are planned for the site, needs a proper mobility plan.

“We were given a presentation by the City of Montreal two weeks ago where the mobility plan was completely unrealistic,” she explained. “It’s a non-starter. There’s one access for Jean Talon, and another for Devonshire. However, the fire department insists, and this is perhaps something that works in our favour, that there be three separate egress and access points for the Hippodrome project.”

Berku said there are two access options being considered.

“One is an underpass on Clanranald [from Jean Talon in Montreal to Côte St. Luc], but in my view it would be very difficult to have a fire truck go under [the rail tracks] on Clanranald. That would be a major underpass.” She later said a Clanranald underpass would be optimal for pedestrians, even possibly with a moving sidewalk.

The other. previously reported by The Suburban, would be for Jean Talon to go to Mackle in CSL.

“They keep pushing it, but we keep telling them it doesn’t make any sense. You’d have to cross nine tracks, parking lots, wetlands, and probably build an underpass double the length of the existing Cavendish underpass. It’s going to be much more expensive, much longer and more difficult to build than the underpass they would build if they did the Cavendish extension.” The more realistic option, she told The Suburban, is to extend Jean Talon to an extended Cavendish, “which would be less expensive than the Mackle option.”

Berku said the City of Montreal “has to understand that they have no other option” but to also build the Cavendish link.

“I told Girard, why would we invest even $1 into the infrastructure if there’s no viable mobility plan?” she told The Suburban.

What was Girard’s response, we asked.

“It was ‘It’s going to take a long time, and the federal government hasn’t given any money yet,’” Berku said. “The Mayors are going to insist that when Prime Minister Mark Carney meets [Montreal Mayor] Valérie Plante, that he understands very well that investing in the Hippodrome infrastructure could be a priority for the City of Montreal, but it should not be realized unless it’s linked to Cavendish, because there’s no viable road network to service the Hippodrome.”

Mayor Mitchell Brownstein said not building the Cavendish extension along with the Hippodrome project would represent a breach of contract.

“We’ll keep on pushing.” n

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“Margins are too slim to absorb tariffs!”

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Beryl Wajsman, and Dan Laxer The Suburban

Despite the tariff reprieve until March 1,The Suburban decided to get a sense of how the Montreal business community could be affected at the local level.

While it was all well and good for politicians to react at the macro level — including the now delayed threat to pull American products off SAQ shelves — and the general provincial and federal statements about financial support, the picture on main street is troubling indeed.

When Finance Minister Eric Girard – also Minister Responsible for Relations with English-Speaking Quebeckers – said that there will be measures to ensure that. “We will protect our economy, our business, and our citizens,” he, like his counterparts, had few specifics. In part because since Canada had never faced such a serious trade threat, few could calculate the full ramifications.

Bold statements are necessary to give Canadians courage, but they do not address the specific damaging effects on individuals and companies. The tariffs would be an existential threat to lives and livelihoods.

Elliot Lifson, President of the Canadian Apparel Federation and Vice-Chairman of Montreal’s Peerless Clothing- Canada’s largest menswear manufacturer with a massive export component — had this to say to The Suburban. “The margins in this industry — one of Canada’s largest — are too slim to absorb the tariffs. if there is no permanent resolution, our focus will be on protecting the jobs and livelihoods of our workers. And to do that this industry will need help from all three levels of government.” Peerless has some 4,000 workers at its east end facility in Montreal.

The Suburban also contacted several transport companies. Many of their executives were not available for comment and at least one did not want to comment. However, Lachine-based Prince Logistic Services dispatcher Emilio Fiore pointed out that, “our biggest fear is that markets slow down, less product goes to the U.S., less product comes in and definitely it would impact the transport industry.”

We also contacted executives in heavy industry and tech sectors. Though none wanted to speak for attribution, one common thread was that they are trying to reach their American clients and see whether a mutual absorption of tariffs was possible. None had yet concluded any arrangements.

~ with files

from Joel Goldenberg n

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TMR’s Carlyle School gets visit from Finance Minister and MNA

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Dan Laxer
The Suburban

Quebec Finance Minister Eric Girard paid a visit to Carlyle Elementary School in Town of Mount Royal recently along with Michelle Setlakwe, Liberal MNA for Mont Royal-Outremont.

As the Minister Responsible for Relations with English-Speaking Quebecers, Girard had accepted an invitation from the English Montreal School Board (EMSB) to visit some of their schools. He was at Royal Vale School in NDG two years ago, and Dunrae Gardens last year.

Setlakwe joined Girard on this particular visit because the school is in her riding. Both she and Girard live within walking distance of Carlyle. In fact, Girard told students he often walks his dog past the school.

The visit to Carlyle was a bit different in that the school’s Media Club, made up of Leadership students from Grades 5 and 6, were given the opportunity to interview the MNAs in a mock news conference.

The 10 students in the club have been learning about media and journalism. Part of the program is the production of Carlyle Live: The Carlyle Elementary School Podcast. The students, guided by their animator – a former broadcaster-turned-print journalist – write and record their own stories culled from day-to-day life in the Carlyle community. They spent some time coming up with questions for Girard and Setlakwe. The students asked their questions in English. Girard and Setlawke answered for the most part in French.

There were questions about how kids can play a role in the political process even though they can’t vote. Girard responded that young people have a lot of influence. They can write to their leaders, or speak with them, or have discussions with their parents. Politicians, Girard said, “have a long-term responsibility to future generations.”

Some took the bold step of asking Setlakwe and Girard their thoughts on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stepping down as Liberal Party leader, and on U.S. President Trump’s threats to take over Canada.

On Trudeau, Setlakwe said there comes a time when leaders need to step aside and let others take over. She encouraged the students to pay attention to upcoming leadership races – federal, provincial, and municipal, adding “even if we don’t agree with everything a politician puts forward, I think politicians deserve respect.”

On Trump’s threats to take over Canada, Girard said it’s not going to happen. “Canada is a beautiful country,” the CAQ minister told the students. “We are proud to live here. Trump says a lot of things,” Girard added. “We should watch what he does and not listen too much to what he says.”

Both MNAs said they enjoy their jobs, they enjoy working in the National Assembly, and in their ridings. Setlakwe said she loves working with her co-citizens and neighbours. Girard explained that they work in Quebec City from Tuesday to Thursday eight months out of the year. “When I’m in Quebec City,” he said, “I miss my family. And I miss walking my dog in Town of Mount Royal past Carlyle School.” n

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Critics denounce government spending after Quebec economic update

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

Critics denounce government spending after Quebec economic update

Peter Black, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

peterblack@qctonline.com

Finance Minister Éric Girard has come up with $2.1 billion in new spending over five years while at the same time vowing to balance the province’s budget by 2029-30.

Girard made the commit- ments as part of a sweeping package of spending and tax measures in his economic update delivered on Nov. 21.

The increased spending is targeted at priority areas, including forestry, housing, public transit and public safety.

In presenting the update in the National Assembly, Girard said, “Since 2018, the strong performance of our economy has made it possible to narrow the gap in living standards with Ontario. This catch-up is supported by our government’s action to protect Quebecers’ purchasing power and support the growth of our strategic sectors.”

The largest single chunk of new spending, nearly $1.2 billion over five years, is earmarked for “supporting the transition of public transit bodies and contributing to the vitality of Montreal and the Capitale-Nationale [region].”

Some Quebecers will see some modest tax relief as of the new year. The government is indexing personal income tax parameters by 2.85 per cent, which amounts to a $5.2-billion tax cut overall over five years.

On the other hand, some older residents will be losing a tax benefit with the move to increase the age eligibility threshold for a tax credit for working seniors from 60 to 65. Quebec will save $877 million over five years and nearly 200,000 taxpayers will be hit with an average $973-per-year increase.

Families will see a modest benefit, with family allowance payments increasing to $3,006 a year, a boost of $83.

The economic statement drew harsh reaction from political opponents. The Quebec Liberal Party, for example, dismissed Girard’s optimistic forecast.

Opposition finance critic Frédéric Beauchemin said in a statement that Girard’s projection of a doubling of economic growth in the coming months is not realistic, “with significant tariff increases expected, an economic slowdown is more likely.”

Beauchemin said, “The minister inflates the government’s anticipated revenues beyond the private sector average to maintain his deficit, despite substantial cuts. This lacks credibility.”

Official Opposition Leader Marc Tanguay added, “[Premier] François Legault promised prosperity, but instead, he delivered the decline of Quebec’s financial capacity. With his economic update, the CAQ demonstrates its incompetence in managing public finances.”

The second Opposition, Québec Solidaire (QS), denounced the government for not keeping pace with spending increases for social services.

QS treasury board critic Vincent Marissal said in a statement, “There is only one person left in Quebec who still seems to believe that we are not in a period of austerity and that is Éric Girard. It is now crystal clear. The CAQ is cutting spending increases, which will necessarily affect services to citizens as a whole. Quebec has already played this scenario a few years ago and it leaves a bitter taste.”

The Parti Québécois attacked the government for excessive spending. Finance critic Pascal Paradis said in a news release, the CAQ government “has an easy time spending for electioneering: we have counted more than $5 billion in frivolous spending and decisions that have directly affected Quebec’s financial capacity. From $7 million to the Los Angeles Kings to $710 million in Northvolt, including millions in loans to insolvent or hard-to-justify companies, such as jewellers or airships. Wasting Quebecers’ money has a price!”

The Quebec Conservative Party, which does not have a seat in the legislature, went even further, calling for Girard to resign. Finance critic Adrien Pouliot said in a statement that Legault should “reshuffle his cabinet as quickly as possible in order to remove Éric Girard before he causes further damage to our public finances and to Quebec’s financial credibility.”

On a more local level, Quebec City Coun. Jackie Smith said in a release, “Despite the significant deficit it is forecasting, this government has not been able to invest where it was needed. We are experiencing a housing crisis, a homelessness crisis and a public transit crisis. We are disappointed that this spendthrift government is leaving only crumbs for our sectors in crisis.”

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