Today we’re launching phase 1. So, this is only the first step, but it proves that we can achieve great things when we all work together as partners.

For the federal government, public transit is part of our vision for a better future.

First, because obviously efficient public transit improves people’s quality of life. For a mother or father who lives, who works downtown Montréal and lives here, in Brossard or somewhere else on the South Shore, this means less time in traffic, more time with the kids.

Second, public transit also helps us keep our air clean and fight climate change. The REM is 100% electric, and when it’s completed, we will cut our greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of 30,000 fewer cars on our roads in Montréal each day. We’re seeing it with the forest fires this year. The consequences of climate change are becoming more and more devastating. So, when we build projects like the REM, we are leaving our children a cleaner, healthier environment and communities where they can live a good life.

And third, public transit makes our communities more connected. This is especially important at a time when we need to redouble our efforts to make housing more affordable. We’ll be able to create more housing and more density in areas around REM stations. People will be able to move more easily from one spot to another.

Our government is focused on delivering results for Canadians and Quebecers. This is the largest public transit project undertaken in Quebec in the last 50 years. Once completed, the REM will add 26 stations and 67 kilometres of tracks to Montréal’s current metro networks, significantly improving public transit services for residents of the Greater Montréal area. Once phases 2 and 3 are operational, the REM network will also link communities to the West Island and the North Shore. To support this project, we’re investing $1.28 billion through the Canada Infrastructure Bank with an additional $300 million for the construction of the REM station at the Montréal–Trudeau International Airport.

In fact, in summer 2019, we celebrated the opening of the new Samuel De Champlain Bridge. The REM project that we’re inaugurating today would not have been possible without this crucial construction for Greater Montréal.

Since 2015, our government has made historic investments in public transit across the country. I’m thinking of this new network here but also in Vancouver and other places, in addition to investments in electric buses made in Quebec by workers at Novabus.

And we’re creating the first permanent public transit fund of $3 billion annually starting in 2026.

Earlier, I was talking about our vision for the future. Our vision for the future is simple: create good jobs, make life more affordable, make people’s lives easier and protect the environment. Well, the REM helps us do all of this at once.