On February 17, 2025, the Table sent a letter to Geneviève Guilbault, Minister responsible for the Ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité Durable du Québec, expressing our concern about the new postponements concerning the upgrading of the Gaspé rail line.
We are concerned about the impact of postponing work on section 3 (Port-Daniel-Gaspé) of the rail line and the impact of the actual arrival of the train to Gaspé
"We are concerned about the impact of postponing work on section 3 (Port-Daniel-Gaspé) of the rail line, and about the impact of the actual arrival of the train to Gaspé. We are also concerned about the possibility of increased costs to complete the upgrade of the entire railroad. We know that Quebec has already announced $518 million in June 2023 to complete the upgrade to Gaspé. We want to ensure that the Quebec government's financial commitment is maintained, enabling us to complete all the work required, so that we can finally benefit from quality rail transport for the Gaspé Peninsula. This objective takes on its full meaning in the current context of the imposition of tariffs by the U.S. government. In a recent ministerial address to the National Assembly, Quebec Premier François Legault spoke of the urgent need to speed up infrastructure work. This is a perfect opportunity to speed up the rehabilitation of the Gaspé rail line.
We therefore intend to remain mobilized to follow up on this issue, which is so important for the Gaspé Peninsula. Solidarité Gaspésie, the Comité de Citoyens pour le développement and the Chambre de commerce de La Côte-de-Gaspé are part of a Table d'échange sur le transport ferroviaire that also includes representatives of the Regroupement des MRC de la Gaspésie, including Éric Dubé, President of the Société du chemin de fer de la Gaspésie and Prefect of the MRC de Bonaventure. This forum for exchange and discussion was set up in November 2022, following a major public mobilization in the months leading up to the event, and a desire to work together in a concerted fashion.
