Whether it's the Highway 20 bypass, the Pincourt arena or the Vaudreuil-Dorion aquatic complex, Vaudreuil independent MNA Marie-Claude Nichols deplores the CAQ's lack of openness to the Vaudreuil region.

On Thursday, September 12, the MNA took advantage of question period in the Salon rouge and the presence of a number of Vaudreuil residents to table the petition on Highway 20 and question the Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Geneviève Guilbault, on her intentions regarding congestion problems in Vaudreuil. 

“Congestion problems go beyond normal traffic. They have a major impact on all our citizens. Our children are late for school every day, cases of road rage have made the papers, accidents are on the increase, our businesses are struggling to survive... Can the Minister stand up and speak frankly to the exasperated citizens of Vaudreuil? Can she get into solution mode?” asked the MNA.

“We're in a catastrophic situation. There are solutions. We proposed some to the former Minister of Transport and to the new Minister. To relieve congestion, you need the will. Where's the will? The citizens of Vaudreuil and Soulanges want more than political jousting. They want action on the ground. Does the Minister want to help us?” added Marie-Claude Nichols.

In response, Minister Guilbault recalled the various measures put in place by the CAQ to support citizens, including free use of Autoroute 30 during closures of the Île-aux-Tourtes bridge, the addition of a commuter train line and the development of park-and-ride facilities.

At the same time, she laid the blame at the door of previous governments, the Liberals and the Pequistes, who, in her opinion, had allowed infrastructure to deteriorate.

Petition submitted

Signed by over 16,200 citizens, the petition calling for concrete action by the Caquist government to complete Highway 20 was tabled at the National Assembly on September 12.

The MNA agreed to act as sponsor of the petition, a necessary step before it could be tabled at the National Assembly. She now wants the government to study it in parliamentary committee.

”The problems of traffic congestion in our region are unbearable for the population, just as they are for merchants,” says the MNA. Given the CAQ's lack of sensitivity to the proposed solutions, I'm not surprised that citizens have decided to take action with this petition. It's not normal for our population to be hemmed in like this,” she declared at a press conference as she left the Salon rouge.

“I don't even feel that the government really understands this issue. I don't feel anyone's support when the government should be concerned... The door is wide open for the support of the MNA for Soulanges. The call has gone out to the Minister of Transport to come and see for herself the situation in the riding,” she added.

MNA Nichols is asking François Legault's government to agree to study the petition, consider the proposals put forward by regional players and work towards finding lasting solutions.

For her, this is not a partisan issue, but one of quality of life and economic vitality, the latter being mentioned as a priority for the CAQ government.

“It's not true that the people of Vaudreuil and Soulanges will have to put up with this until 2027. A petition with over 16,000 signatories speaks volumes and deserves to be looked at. I'm going to do my job as a Member of Parliament. I'm going to take it to the parliamentary committee and I'm going to ask that it be dealt with. I'm also going to ask for the support of the MP for Soulanges so that, at the very least, she talks to her colleagues and asks them to take a serious look at this issue.”

Other examples

The MNA for Vaudreuil believes that examples of the CAQ's indifference to her riding go beyond the issues of the Île-aux-Tourtes bridge and Highway 20. 

She cites as examples the project to revive the Pincourt arena and the Vaudreuil-Dorion aquatic complex, both of which were denied funding under the Programme d'aide financière aux infrastructures récréatives, sportives et de plein air (PAFIRSPA).

“Since the CAQ came to power, all the projects proposed by our municipalities have been refused,” denounces the independent MNA. “Our indoor pools no longer meet demand, and the ice hours in our arenas are no longer sufficient to hold the activities of the various sports clubs. I'd like the CAQ to make decisions based on the real needs of the population, not on its political considerations,” concludes Marie-Claude Nichols.