The Daily Courier

Federal government promises province $4.1B for roads, rec

Money to be spent over next decade for rural communitie­s, transit, and green building

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VANCOUVER — Ottawa has announced a new multibilli­on-dollar infrastruc­ture deal with British Columbia, just a week after a report found the federal government was falling behind on the spending program.

Federal Infrastruc­ture Minister Amarjeet Sohi and B.C. Transporta­tion Minister Claire Trevana signed an agreement Monday that will see $4.1 billion doled out over the next decade for transit, green infrastruc­ture, recreation facilities, and projects in rural and northern communitie­s across the province.

“Partnershi­ps like this are going to have an immense effect on people’s lives throughout the Lower Mainland and across the province,” Trevana said. “It’s going to mean better transit for everyone.

“It’s going to mean that local infrastruc­ture can be upgraded and work for people.”

The federal government is investing in infrastruc­ture because well-maintained and efficient infrastruc­ture is the foundation of strong communitie­s, Sohi said.

“We believe that this investment will help us achieve the vision we have for Canadian communitie­s,” he said, adding it will create jobs and support a green economy.

The new agreement between B.C. and Ottawa follows a report last week from parliament­ary budget officer Jean-Denis Frechette’s office, which found that only half of the money the Liberals earmarked for their infrastruc­ture spending program had been allocated.

The report said 10,052 projects with a combined cost to federal coffers of $7.2 billion have been approved for funding across 32 department­s, agencies and Crown corporatio­ns since 2016, when the Liberals unveiled the first phase of their infrastruc­ture program.

An additional $7.2 billion had not yet been allotted.

Speaking in Vancouver on Monday, Sohi said the issue comes down to getting a bill.

“This is not about holding back on projects or constructi­on activity not happening,” he said. “It’s just a matter of cash flow for us, where we just have to wait until we get the invoices to pay out the federal contributi­on to our partners.”

Sohi vowed that “every single cent” of the $180 billion the federal government has promised for infrastruc­ture spending over 12 years will be invested in Canadian communitie­s.

For B.C., that will include a “massive investment” in public transit, Trevana said.

The federal and provincial government­s have already reached a deal to fund a $7-billion transit expansion in the Lower Mainland over 10 years, including increased bus service, a SkyTrain along Vancouver’s Broadway corridor and light rail in Surrey.

The federal and provincial government­s will each cover 40 per cent of the cost, while the municipali­ties will raise transit fares, property taxes and other expenses to fill the remaining funding gap.

Trevana said the agreement will also see $1.1 billion put toward green infrastruc­ture projects and $157 million will be spent on playground­s and recreation centres across B.C.

 ??  ?? Federal Infrastruc­ture Minister Amarjeet Sohi said that “every single cent” of $180 billion total investment will be spent in Canada.
Federal Infrastruc­ture Minister Amarjeet Sohi said that “every single cent” of $180 billion total investment will be spent in Canada.

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