The mayors of the Côte-de-Beaupré deplore the choice of the Legault government not to finance the popular river shuttles in 2025; They claim their return for 2026.
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“We want it to come back in 2026. We don’t let go of the song. We will continue to work the file to bring this back to the coast, ”launched the prefect of the MRC de la Côte-de-Beaupré, Pierre Lefrançois.
He recalls that the government participated in renovations of $ 10M on the quay of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré. “It has to serve!”
Last minute
The mayors say they learned at the last minute this spring that the Legault government would not renew in 2025 the financing of the shuttles which served Quebec and Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré. These welcomed 34,000 cruise sites last year. According to the various scenarios studied, the funds requested in Quebec were between $ 700,000 and $ 1.4 million.
The government wanted more participation of municipalities and users, says Lefrançois. “We have to find another financing system.”
The mayor of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, Jacques Bouchard, underlines that his municipality, which is “devitalized”, “does not have the financial means” to do more.
Financing elsewhere in Quebec
He questions the government’s choice to abandon funding in the region, while he continues elsewhere in Quebec for other shuttle projects. “Why don’t we have what others have?”
“We had the new end of May. We had a meeting only in early June with the minister [responsable de la Capitale-Nationale, Jonatan] Julien because he was overwhelmed. I understand, but from mid-June, you cannot rework a business model, ”deplores Mr. Bouchard. “We are targeting 2026.”
The shuttle stop is a failed opportunity to continue to develop a soft and lasting mobility which costs much less than highways, recalls Lucie Charland, vice-president of development and public affairs at Cruises Aml, which operated the ships. “Yes, there is a cost to that. But while you float on the water, you are not paying for a road or bridgeting a bridge. The maritime is a light infrastructure, ”says Mr.me Charland.
Legacies for the region
She recalls that Minister Geneviève Guilbault, predecessor of Mr. Julien, wanted to make shuttles a legacy for the region, after the pandemic.
The shuttles, a project supported by the Quebec metropolitan community, were very popular. They welcomed tourists, but also residents who were transitted to Quebec. They had experienced a traffic increase of 40% in three years, testifies Mme Charland, thanks to reduced pricing. Aml is motivated to continue the adventure, she insists.
Bernard Péré, Director of Development Côte-de-Beaupré, promoter of the project, does not throw blame on the government and rather points to a lack of time to complete a new financial partnership. The project is not dead, he underlines, “optimistic” about the idea of managing to find solutions for next year.
During this vacation period, it was not possible to obtain a reaction from the cabinet of Minister Jonatan Julien.
River shuttle pilot project*
- Linked Quebec to Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré
- Operated from 2022 to 2024, from the feast of Patriots to grace action
- Cost: $ 15 to go simple in 2022 and 2023 and $ 5 in 2024
- 34,000 cruise passengers in 2024
- 40% of the customers were made up of citizens of Côte-de-Beaupré
- Direct economic benefits of the project in 2024: $ 2.89M
- Indirect fallout across Quebec: $ 5.2M
- Allowed the direct creation of 15 jobs
*Source: Côte-de-Beaupré development