Quebec announces $100B infrastructure spending plan

QUÉBEC—The Government of Québec has announced investments of $100.4 billion over ten years in an ambitious infrastructure spending plan attached to the province’s 2018 budget.

This spending marks the biggest infrastructure spending increase since the rollout of Quebec’s first infrastructure investment plan in 2007.

Representing a 10.2 per cent increase over the 2017‑2027 QIP, more than $10 billion will be allocated for infrastructure improvements and new projects in 2018‑2019.

The plan places significant emphasis on public transit and innovation, providing $2.3 billion in additional investments for several public transit projects across the province.

The Government is also investing $1.2 billion to bolster Québec’s digital strategy.

Greater transparency
Considering the recent problems surrounding corruption in the infrastructure sector, Quebec has launched a website to outline the progress of all projects costing $50 million or more included in the 2018‑2028 QIP.

“Responsibly managing public finances has put us in a position to invest more in building and preserving our infrastructure, be it hospitals, schools, or the maintenance and development of our roads and public transit infrastructure,” said Pierre Arcand, Minister responsible for Government Administration and Ongoing Program Review. “A historic sum of over $100 billion will be invested for the 2018‑2028 period. This is the largest growth since the implementation of the Québec Infrastructure Plan in 2007, and a record investment, of which 65% will be used to maintain our assets. The job creation that will result from our choice will achieve our goal of creating 250,000 new jobs.”

Quebec provincial budget highlights
A total of $6.3 billion in additional investments in public transit and highway infrastructure, including $4 billion for major roadwork projects and $2.3 billion for transformative transit projects.

These projects include:

• the extension of the blue metro line – Montréal
• the transformative “tramway-trambus” project – Québec City
• a project office for a third link – Québec City–Lévis
• the extension of Route 138 – Côte-Nord
• a project office for a bridge between Baie-Sainte-Catherine and Tadoussac – Côte-Nord
• the extension of Autoroute 19 – Laval and Laurentides
• An additional $2.2 billion for education and higher education, including more than $1.1 billion to renovate schools and add classrooms in Québec.
• A further $1.2 billion for healthcare infrastructure improvements, such as the Vaudreuil-Soulanges hospital project in Montérégie.
• A sum of $1.2 billion to speed up the digital shift Québec-wide.
• A total of $226 million to build 3,000 social housing units.