The new Champlain Bridge should have no other name than the Champlain Bridge, according to the province’s politicians. Members of the National Assembly voted unanimously Thursday on a joint Parti Quebecois/Coalition Avenir Quebec motion that the new bridge should carry its old name. And though Liberals supported the motion, Transport Minister Robert Poeti said he sees no reason why the debate over the name needs to take place right now. “The bridge is under federal jurisdiction,” he said, refusing to take a side on the name debate. “Right now, do we need a name, or do we need a bridge? We need a bridge,” he said. Federal Infrastructure Minister Denis Lebel announced last week that Maurice Richard’s name was no longer being considered for the new bridge after the hockey legend’s family intervened. In Quebec City Thursday, PQ MNA and leadership hopeful Jean-Francois Lisee said the federal government’s attempts to rename the bridge serve a clear purpose. “The federal government wants to make us believe they’re building a new bridge over the St. Lawrence because if (we see it as) a new bridge, they can put toll on it,” he said. -- with files from The Canadian Press
