Construction start is now due for November 2017. It's a lot more official now that the project is 100% funded.
Expected ridership without the three new stations (Edouard-Montpetit, McGill and Bassin Peel) is 167,000 users daily.
Official REM map showing the connections with all the existing transportation lines:
https://www.cdpqinfra.com/sites/defa..._fr_161130.png