Montreal's beleaguered REM de l'Est project has had its environmental review hearing postponed

The future of the $10 billion REM de L'Est light rail project for Montreal's east side is up in the air, now that promoter CDPQ Infra has tried to delay public hearings by Quebec's environmental review agency, known by its French acronym. BAPE.

The second stage Réseau express metro It should include 23 stations along the 32-kilometre route, which will stretch from the city center to the eastern neighborhoods of Pointe-au-Trembles and Montréal Nord through a mix of underground tunnels and elevated tracks.

But many groups, most notably the city of Montreal, have raised red flags about the project — suggesting it would be inefficient, inefficient and a threat to the city's Chinatown and residential east side.

CDPQ Infra, a subsidiary of the Quebec pension fund manager Caisse de dépôt and placement du Quebec, The new design, released last week, tried to address some of these issues.

However, the city said it still has concerns about the project, and CDPQ Infra said Thursday it will not proceed with BAPE hearings until it gets more clarity from the city about those concerns.

“We place great importance on maintaining common alignment with all partners,” Jean-Vincent Lacroix, CDPQ Infra's director of communications, said in an emailed statement to CBC.

“It is natural and necessary to take the time to ensure such alignment before launching the BAPE process,” Lacroix said.

Mayor Valerie Plante responded with a statement, saying the city's concerns were clearly stated in the report prepared by the expert advisory committee.

“We expect CDPQ Infra to do its homework and respond to the inquiries raised in the panel's report,” Plante said.

The delay means that construction of the REM de L'Est will not start in mid-2023 as planned and will not be commissioned in 2029 as planned.

Province says BAPE hearings 'premature'

The CAQ government said on Thursday it supports the delay, but insists the project will go ahead.

“REM de l'Est is a major project that requires things to be done properly, with rigor,” said Chantal Rouleau, junior transport minister and minister responsible for Montreal.

“We want to take the time to do things to the satisfaction of all parties: the city, the CDPQ and the government,” Rouleau said.

“At the current stage, it is too early to listen to the environmental expertise. In this regard, we would like to have a hearing,” he said.

“We are still confident that we will come up with the best project for Montreal East,” Rouleau said.

Plante has repeatedly said he wants Montreal to have a “seat at the table,” meaning he wants the province to create a task force that includes the city.

Rouleau said Thursday the province is working on it.

Plante was accused of “killing” the project

Aref Salem, leader of Montreal's municipal opposition ensemble, blamed Thursday Plante for the delay.

“He's slowly killing this project,” Salem said. “There is no other way to say it – we will see the death of this project.”

According to him, the city held more than 140 meetings with CDPQ Infra last year, and the mayor had more than a year to explain to the stakeholders what he believed to be an exemplary integration of the Rém de l'Est.

Jean-Denis Charest, head of the Montreal East Chamber of Commerce, told the CBC that the city, province and CDPQ Infra need to do a better job of working together.

“I would encourage all leaders not to start negotiations in the public space. I don't think it served the project,” said Charest.

“I think they should all get together in a room and come up with a solution.”