News Release

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

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COMPLETION OF THE WESTERN SECTION OF HIGHWAY 30 UNDER A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP

November 5, 2006
Léry, Quebec

The Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, the Quebec Premier, Jean Charest, accompanied by the federal Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Lawrence Cannon, the federal Minister of Public Works and Government Services, Michael M Fortier, the Quebec Minister of Transport and Minister responsible for the National Capital region, Michel Després, and the Quebec Minister of Education, Recreation and Sport and Minister responsible for the Montérégie region, Jean Marc Fournier, today announced the launch of a request for qualifications to identify potential private partners to complete the Western section of Highway 30 under a public-private partnership.

“Canada’s New Government is proud to work with the Government of Quebec to complete the Western section of Highway 30. Our government is determined to deliver results in the area of transport for Canadians,” stated Prime Minister Harper. “This new south bypass will also contribute to the development of markets in Montreal and the Montérégie region and provides greater access to markets in Ontario, the Maritimes and the United States. The considerable reduction of traffic congestion, therefore of air pollution, in the Greater Montreal Area, constitutes an important part of our strategy to improve the quality of the air that we breathe and to protect the health of Canadians.”

“The completion of Highway 30 is consistent with our strategy to foster sustainable development. Now that cars and trucks will be able to conveniently bypass Montreal, the citizens of Montreal Island will enjoy a better quality of life,” stated Premier Charest. “This project, which is finally becoming a reality, will help to ease road congestion in Montreal, stimulate economic development in Montérégie and promote the export of goods to external markets. The announcement today speaks to the willingness of both governments to work together to better serve the interests of the population.”

The Western section of Highway 30 is 35 kilometres in length between Châteauguay and Vaudreuil-Dorion, along with a seven-kilometre section connecting to Salaberry-de-Valleyfield that will be renamed Highway 530. This section will be designed, built, funded, operated, maintained and repaired by the private partner for the duration of the partnership agreement. A toll is also planned for the section between Châteauguay and Vaudreuil-Dorion.

The purpose of the project to complete Highway 30 between Vaudreuil-Dorion and Candiac is to provide the Montreal area with a four-lane bypass highway, via the South Shore, to ensure a smooth flow of people and goods in the Greater Montreal Area.

The Request for Qualifications

In the next few days, the Government of Quebec will be launching the request for qualifications, open to national and international companies. This project constitutes an investment of over $1 billion. This is the main step in selecting a private sector partner. The process will ensure that a limited number of candidates will be qualified, based on strict criteria related to their ability to design, build, fund, operate and maintain the infrastructure, as part of a public-private partnership that takes into consideration government requirements.

This process is being carried out jointly by Transport Quebec and Partenariats public-privé Québec (PPP Québec).

Three candidates will be selected following the request for qualifications, and they will continue with the process by responding to a call for proposals, scheduled for May 2007. The partnership agreement will be signed with the candidate who submits the proposal that is most beneficial for the Government and the community.

The entire process is designed to ensure transparency, fairness and a healthy competitive environment for the candidates. The process will be monitored by an auditor commissioned by Partenariats public-privé Québec. The information, instructions and documents for responding to the call for qualifications to complete Highway 30 will be available in the next few days on the following Internet site: www.seao.ca.

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The Prime Minister’s Office - Communications
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