CUPE Canadian Union of Public Employees : The REM project – The Trainsparence coalition welcomes BAPE’s conclusions

[Attachment] The Trainsparence coalition welcomes the conclusions of Quebec's environmental review board (BAPE) made public last Friday morning by La Presse. In a report submitted to the government, the BAPErecognizes that the REMproject being advanced by the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) is neither economically nor environmentally justifiable.

'The BAPEpoints out several problems linked to the project's acceptance process and the project in and of itself. Many have been calling for a parliamentary committee on the REMproject since April 2016, in light of the immense investment by taxpayers. The REMwould become the biggest P3 in Quebec history. Taxpayers have the right to know how their money will be spent,' said Denis Bolduc, president of CUPEQuebec and spokesperson for Trainsparence.

Another disturbing detail about the REMis that the government modified the Act to facilitate the disclosure of wrongdoings within public bodies to exclude the CDPQfrom this whistleblower protection legislation.

'If someone at the CDPQwants to alert authorities about problems with this project, they won't be able to. It makes no sense,' said Bolduc.

Trainsparence, an important coalition of public transit experts, environmental groups, and unions, including CUPE, has called for a parliamentary committee to evaluate the entire impact of the project.

For more information, see trainsparence.ca.