3 visions for public transportation clash at 1st Quebec City mayoral debate

The three candidates vying for the mayor's seat in Quebec City's municipal electionsseemed to agree transportation will be the key issue to win over voters.

The solutions they are proposingare howeverworlds apart.

The first televised debate was held Tuesday evening on the local Radio-Canada television program.

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Rgis Labeaume, who'sbeen the mayor of Quebec City for the last 10 years,faced off with Qubec21'sfirst-time candidate Jean-FranoisGosselin as well as Anne Gurette, the leader of DmocratieQubec.

Guretteis placing her bets on an electrictramway system that would connectthe Ste-Foy neighbourhood to the downtown core.

"It's relevant, it's the project we need,"said Gurettewho estimated the cost of the 11-kilometre line to be about $750 million.

GurettecriticizedLabeaumefor not having a concrete proposalin his platform after 10 years in the mayor's seat.

Labeaume, who saw his rapid-bus transit project fall apart only months ago, replied that he didn't want ''to lie to citizens."

"We won't draw up a new project on the corner of the table,"said Labeaumeduring the debate.

The 61-year-old said that before committing to anything, the city hasto find out how much it can gain from the federalPublic Transit Infrastructure Fund,a $3.4-billion budgetto be allocated to cities across Canada by March2019.

Tale of 2 cities

Jean-FranoisGosselin's message to citizens was that this election would be a decisive stand on public transportation.

"A vote for Guretteis a vote for the tramway. A vote for Labeaume is a vote for the SRB, or whatever he'll call it. A vote for Gosselinis a vote for a third link, to the East,"he repeated.

The idea of buildinga third bridge or a tunnel between QubecCity and Lvis has taken on a life of its own over the past year.

In its last budget, the Quebec governmentcommitted $20,5 millionfor a permanent office committed to this''third link''.

Gosselinsaid Gurette's tramway would only benefit people living in Quebec's upper-town, and would be of no help to those living in more subarban areas.

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Spending on culture

Gosselin was also quick to point out what he sees as overspending at city hall.

The 42-year-old said he would have neverspent $7 million for Robert Lepage's Le Diamant multi-disciplinaryart space.

"How many little girls and boys could have taken theatre classes with $7 million?,"he asked Labeaume during the debate.

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Labeaumedefended his previous mandates, stating that finding private funds for a project like the new Lassonde pavilion at the Muse national des Beaux-Arts requires some public investment.

''I think it's terrible that in 2017 the importance of the cultural industry in the economy isn't recognized,'' he said.

Citizen participation

Anne Gurettesaid these decisions have to be made in collaboration with citizens to reflect their priorities and needs.

Dmocratie Quebecis proposing to set aside $27 millionout of the city's budget for neighbourhood councils which would work closely with elected officials at city hall.

''Why do you refuse to give any power to citizens?'' Gurette asked Labeaume.

''Doing that you deny democracy everybody is electing a councillor. Why would we give close to $30 million to a neighbourdhood council?'' replied Labeaume, saying the current form of public consultations allows citizens to speak their mind.

There are 6 people running for mayor of Quebec City:

• Daniel Brisson Alliance citoyenne deQubec
• Claude Gagnon
• Jean-FranoisGosselinQubec21, quipe FGosselin
• AnneGuretteDmocratieQubec
• RgisLabeaume quipeLabeaume
• Nicolas Lavigne-LefebvreOption Capitale-Nationale