Quebec Conservative Leader Éric Duhaime demanded a halt to the Québec tramway project on Saturday, September 12, 2026, calling for a clear accounting of costs as his party campaigns against the initiative. Duhaime also unveiled a separate bridge proposal connecting Québec and Lévis estimated between 2.7 and 3 billion dollars.
The political battle over transit in the provincial capital intensified as the Conservative Party of Quebec took its campaign to the steps of the legislature. Gathering alongside roughly a hundred demonstrators in front of the Parliament, party leaders insisted that the 19-kilometer tramway initiative spearheaded by CDPQ Infra, the provincial government, and the City of Québec must be frozen immediately as reported by TVA Nouvelles.
Challenging Costs and Construction Timelines
Current estimates place the first phase of the tramway at 7.6 billion dollars, with major construction slated to begin in June ahead of a targeted 2033 launch date according to TVA Nouvelles. The project’s master builder, CDPQ Infra, is scheduled to deliver a comprehensive report detailing final expenses in May 2027.
Despite ongoing preparatory work in several sectors, the Conservative leader argued that the project remains financially unverified and unnecessarily disruptive. Party candidates in the region doubled down on that stance, with local candidates asserting that a government holding the balance of power would block the initiative entirely as detailed by Lapresse.
Weighing Transit Priorities Against Downtown Parking
Critics of the transit line focused heavily on its practical footprint and economic impact on small businesses. The opposition campaign points to the anticipated removal of 1,200 parking spaces across the city as a severe blow to local entrepreneurs and drivers noted TVA Nouvelles.
Furthermore, the party questioned the speed and utility of the proposed transit system, arguing that a tramway running at a maximum speed of 21 kilometers per hour would offer little improvement over existing bus routes like the 800 or 801 according to reporting by TVA Nouvelles.
Dueling Mandates Over Public Opinion
The pushback collides directly with the municipal mandate secured by Mayor Bruno Marchand, who won re-election with a substantial majority of pro-tramway councillors in November as covered by TVA Nouvelles. While the municipal administration views the election results as a clear endorsement of the transit plan, the Conservative Party relies on polling data commissioned in the spring by Respect Citoyens highlighted by TVA Nouvelles.
That poll indicates that 76 percent of taxpayers would oppose the tramway if the total bill exceeds 12 billion dollars reported Lapresse. When challenged by municipal leaders regarding political alignments, the Conservative leader maintained that his platform reflects the broader sentiment of residents across the region noted TVA Nouvelles.
Alternative Infrastructure Proposals for the Region
Alongside the tramway freeze demand, the Conservative platform includes a newly introduced third-link project between Québec and Lévis reported by lactualite.com. The proposal outlines a 2.15-kilometer cable-stayed bridge situated south of the Island of Orléans, connecting Royal Road to Route 132 with an estimated cost between 2.7 and 3 billion dollars noted lactualite.com.
The debate over regional transportation priorities now hinges on upcoming cost revelations, legislative positioning, and how voters respond to competing visions for urban mobility ahead of the 2027 reporting milestone.
