Time Capsule: Letter from the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne

"Champlain mapped the area with much attention to the river, its islands, and the terrain. On the north bank of the river he literally put Cartier's name 'Montreal' on the map—its first published appearance"

Champlain's Dream, David Hackett Fischer

Dear Canadians, Montrealers and Quebecers,

It is with great pride that I am writing this letter about the legacy of the Samuel De Champlain Bridge corridor as the federal minister responsible for the corridor at its inauguration. I would like to acknowledge the work of my predecessors, the Honourable Denis Lebel and the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, for their invaluable contributions to this tremendous project, one of the most important of our time in North America.

In principle, this letter should be read in a little over a hundred years. Although it is difficult to imagine what the Greater Montreal area will look like in 2120, I am confident that the Samuel De Champlain Bridge will leave its mark as a gateway to Montreal.  

Like the Champlain Bridge it replaces, the Samuel De Champlain Bridge will undoubtedly play an essential role in the economy both of Montreal, and of Canada as a whole. As one of the busiest traffic corridors in the country today, it supports the passage of $20 billion in international trade annually and more than 11 million public transit users each year.

The Samuel De Champlain Bridge was conceived, designed and built to meet the diverse transportation needs of motorists, pedestrians and cyclists, as well as for public transit and commercial transportation for generations to come. Moreover, it was built to the highest engineering and architectural standards, using state-of-the-art materials so that it will last at least 125 years.

The Samuel De Champlain Corridor Project has received the highest recognition for the environmental and economic benefits it generates for the community. This new bridge reflects the commitment of the Government of Canada to efficient and sustainable transportation infrastructure, which is essential to building strong and inclusive communities and improving the quality of life of Canadians. 

Also, it echoes the historic infrastructure plan we launched in 2015. With this plan, our government committed to support the middle class. Through investments in public transit, green infrastructure and community infrastructure, we have set an ambitious agenda to grow the economy and create jobs and growth in communities across the country. We have committed to ensuring that all Canadians have opportunities that allow them to reach their full potential.

For us, infrastructure is the backbone of communities and plays a key role in our vision for the future. We believe our cities should have efficient public transit systems to help reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality and the implementation of a new transit corridor on the Samuel De Champlain Bridge will contribute to reaching these objectives.

In closing, I would like to acknowledge the remarkable work of the women and men who made possible the design and construction of the Samuel De Champlain Bridge. These dedicated individuals are proud and honoured to build a bridge that will be a legacy from our generation to yours. We are confident that it will fully uphold its promises.

With best regards,

The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne,
Minister of Infrastructure and Communities