By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
In a pointed and detailed press conference held on April 7 at Sherbrooke’s City Hall, Mayor Évelyne Beaudin called on federal election candidates to take concrete positions on critical issues facing the city. Flanked by local media, Beaudin outlined her top three federal priorities: restoring passenger rail service between Sherbrooke and Montréal, protecting drinking water sources, and developing the Sherbrooke airport into a hub for technology and innovation.
“The decisions made in Ottawa have a real impact on the ground here,” Beaudin stated early in her address, underscoring that federal involvement is essential for Sherbrooke’s development—even if municipal affairs fall primarily under provincial jurisdiction.
Beaudin stressed that with the third week of the federal campaign underway, it was time for local candidates to commit to specific action. “I want to hear concrete commitments,” she said, framing her press conference as both an invitation and a challenge to federal hopefuls.
Passenger rail: “a matter of economic development”
At the top of Beaudin’s list was the long-discussed return of a passenger train link between Sherbrooke and Montreal. She emphasized the city’s sustained population growth—over 10,000 new residents in less than four years—and the strategic importance of a reliable, weather-resilient transport link to the province’s metropolis.
Estimates for such a project hover around $1.3 billion, though Beaudin suggested the actual cost could be far higher. “It could be $4 or $5 billion and still be just as relevant,” she said. “The impact of efficient transport infrastructure on economic development is undeniable.”
She urged candidates to treat the file with the same urgency and visibility that has surrounded the Québec–Lévis third link. “Sherbrooke deserves just as much attention,” she insisted.
