Trainsparence opposes Montreal's new transit system

The Réseau Express Métropolitain is a light rail transit system, which will connect Montrealers in the suburbs to the city centre. Some Montrealers are thrilled, while some have concerns over the project.

Local 514 spoke with retired architect, Michael Fish, who’s been working with Trainsparence – a coalition opposed to the REM. Fish told Local 514 Trainsparence’s intention is to either stop the expansion of the REM, nationalise it or improve it.

The Réseau Express Métropolitain is a light rail transit system, which will connect Montrealers in the suburbs to the city centre. Some Montrealers are thrilled, while some have concerns over the project.

Local 514 spoke with retired architect, Michael Fish, who’s been working with Trainsparence – a coalition opposed to the REM. Fish told Local 514 Trainsparence’s intention is to either stop the expansion of the REM, nationalise it or improve it.

"It's a public private partnership," said Fish. "It's very bad for any type of infrastructure which the public owns."

What’s the breakdown of the REM’s private-public ownership?

The Federal government provided the REM with a forgivable loan covering 25% of the cost of the project. Another 25% of the project is owned by the Quebec government, and the rest of the 50% is owned by Canadian pension fund the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec.

Fish said the governance of the REM is not transparent.

"No one gets figures on how much its going to cost tax payers," he said. "Disputes are not handled in public."

Local 514 reached out to the REM for an interview, but we were not granted one before the publication of this video.

Big investments means big returns – and that’s not just for the transit system. Private developers have been buying up land close to REM stations, which will soar in profits as the station completes in 2025. 
  
Fish said most of the REM's downtown stations are near property owned by the CDPQ. "This will increase the value of their property quite a bit," he said, calling it a conflict of interest.