Fight against collusion rakes in $240 M in savings: Transport Québec

QUEBEC CITY – When work on the Turcot interchange recently slowed to a halt, critics complained the government was wasting taxpayer dollars.

“To avoid these types of situations, we are moving up the guarantee bond,” said Transport Minister Sylvain Gaudreault as he presented his new 16-point strategy to lower the cost of public contracts.

The Transport Minister is determined to control expenses and tighten efficiency. He’s ordering contractors to keep work sites operational, or plan for a back-up crew within 48 hours, instead of 15 days.

“We need many actions to save money in transportation in Quebec,” he told the throng of reporters.

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Gaudreault promised to hire and retain more engineers, to better compare tenders and sound the alarm should discrepancies emerge. The minister also wants tighter certification, and workers to adhere to a new “culture of integrity”. Gaudreault said he will soon table a bill to create a transport agency – similar to Quebec’s Revenue Agency – to grant administrators more independence.

“It’s not a bureaucracy, I think with an agency it’s more efficient,” Gaudreault said.

He said Quebecers are already reaping the benefits of the PQ’s tough stance on collusion. Projects so far are costing 16 per cent less than estimated, which amounts to savings of about $240 million.

“Do you think this government is good for the economy and because of that you will have good infrastructure? The answer is no, no, no,” thundered Liberal Opposition Leader Jean-Marc Fournier.

Opposition parties argued creating an agency will not give Quebecers better services, and will certainly not amend for past mistakes.

“I think we also have to recuperate the money that was lost and stolen in other contracts before,” said Coalition Avenir Quebec Leader François Legault.

Gaudreault is also getting ready to table a bill to recoup the millions lost in Quebec’s collusion and corruption scandal. He has the support of the opposition. The transport minister believes he’s doing his part to lead Quebec into a new era of accountability and responsibility.