20,000 tears in Olympic Stadium roof: minister of tourism

The François Legault government will study the Olympic Park’s case in January, and it is only then that it will reveal the cost of the potential replacement of the Olympic Stadium roof, Quebec’s Minister of Tourism Caroline Proulx indicated on Wednesday.

Upon her arrival at the weekly meeting of the council of ministers, Proulx refused to confirm information from “La Presse”, according to which it will cost taxpayers at least $750 million to replace the roof of the Olympic Stadium.

“We will be able to study it somewhere in January, then we will come back to you with the cost, the deadlines and everything involved in the potential replacement of the roof. The decision will be taken by the council of ministers in January,” Proulx said.

Last October, Premier Legault said, according to him, a new roof must be installed. He said he wanted to restore the Olympic Stadium to its former glory, even if he knew the operation would be costly.

In 2017, the Liberal government of Philippe Couillard announced the roof’s replacement, at a cost of $200 to $250 million, with delivery in 2022.

In 2019, however, the deadline was postponed to 2024 because of the complexity of the plan. This new timeline will not be met either, and no new date has been set.

WATCH: Quebec premier wants to replace the roof of Montreal’s Olympic Stadium

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On Wednesday, Proulx declared there were currently 20,000 tears in the roof of the Olympic Stadium.

“If we wait any longer, within a year or two, the Olympic Stadium will be completely closed,” she warned.

She added she did not want, however, to “presume” the decision of the council of ministers.

The Olympic Park announced Tuesday it was beginning a round of exploratory work necessary for the upcoming renovation work at the stadium, which will deprive CF Montreal of its usual home for its first MLS matches in 2024.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews