Postscript: All aboard the birthday train

Me too, me too.

It seems everyone wants a new train. Who doesn't?

The announcement that there would be a new light rail train to the West Island and the airport and across the new bridge is creating a little jealousy.

The PQ was quick to get on board after complaints from local mayors that the East End should get a train too.

The subtext, of course, was it's not fair those Anglos out west are getting something. Nothing new there.

The fact is the western part of the island has sub-standard public transit.

A political decision was made years ago not to extend the metro into the mostly English-speaking areas.

Current train service is poor and the bus service isn't much better.

Quick and modern access to the airport is essential.

All we have now are city buses emblazoned with the almost comical 747 route number running back and forth on the 20.

This is how Montreal greets the world? Bienvenue à Montreal, your Nova bus is this way.

So naysayers be damned. This is a great project and Michael Sabia and his team at the Caisse de Depot should be congratulated.

It's a great project because it makes sense on so many levels, and the Caisse is not in the business of losing money.

When Michael Sabia became the first non-francophone to lead the Caisse in 2008, the pension fund was $40 billion in the red. Since he took over it’s $130 billion richer. That's your money.

So if the Caisse says this is a good bet, then I will go with that.

Michael Sabia is not the Transport Minister and it's not up to him to design public transit solutions for everyone, but giving the green light to the world's third largest automated electric train system is very good news.

No matter where you live. Or how you lean politically.

Does Montreal really need another party?

What really is the big deal about the number 375?

Montreal will celebrate its 375th birthday next year and the money is flowing.

Montreal comes alive says the website. Alive it should with a $100 million budget.

But it seems that's not quite enough.

Hands are out for another $20 million from the feds, for what purpose, I am not sure.

I know many projects are planned including designing new sewer covers and lighting up the Jacques Cartier Bridge.

There will be celebrations planned in every borough.

I suspect that it’s probably a make work project for hundreds. Whenever you get this kind of money it can be an open bar.

I’m not saying we shouldn’t celebrate our city, but the thing is it’s a lot of money for a birthday that will come and go.

Maybe the city should be a little more concerned with economic development, public transit and potholes.

The city needs fixing in so many ways so you have to wonder if a birthday bash of this size is needed and whose best interests might it serve.

Bombardier's big sale

Finally, continuing with our transport theme, from electric trains to gravy trains, it seems to have been a watershed moment for Bombardier this week with the big sale to Delta.

It wasn’t quite a buy-one-get-one-free deal but Bombardier had to do some deep discounting to get the sale.

It now looks like the CSeries is viable and has the stamp of approval from one of the world's biggest airlines, and that is great news.

It also looks like maybe Bombardier doesn’t need all that federal cash, and that’s great news too.

So on this one Ottawa should politely say no... Bombardier can fly on its own.