B.C. has high hopes for cash in federal budget
VICTORIA — B.C. is hoping to pick up new money for transit, housing, public safety and child care when the federal budget is introduced on Wednesday.
Community Minister Peter Fassbender said B.C. has “a great relationship” with the federal Liberal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and is optimistic that new money will flow to the province.
“There’s no question we’re all anticipating some significant investment in transportation,” Fassbender, who is also the minister responsible for TransLink, said in an interview Tuesday.
“In the Metro area, there is speculation of upwards of $2 billion that the federal government would invest in the mayors’ 10-year vision.”
Mayors have said Ottawa could fund up to 40 per cent of the capital costs for the next phase of regional transit, which includes billions of dollars for Surrey light rail, the Broadway subway line in Vancouver and a replacement for the Pattullo Bridge.
B.C. has promised one-third funding for those three projects, with regional municipalities responsible for the rest.
Fassbender left the door open Tuesday to additional funding from the province for the rest of the mayor’s larger 10-year transportation plan if Ottawa is at the table.
“Yes, we are prepared to sit down and look at all of the aspects of that and work with the region on things like how they might be able to develop the long-term funding,” he said.
The B.C. NDP has promised to boost the province’s share of major Metro transit projects to 40 per cent, should that party win the election. The additional funding is billed as a way to lessen the financial burden on local governments and more quickly get transit projects under construction.
Meanwhile, B.C. Housing is forecasting federal contribution toward affordable housing projects will be roughly $233 million, said Fassbender. The province would like Ottawa to offer both more money and partnerships on affordable housing projects, and follow through on calls for a national housing strategy, he said.
Child care advocates are also reportedly expecting long-term funding from Ottawa of up to $500 million a year over 10 years, as the federal government attempts to encourage the provinces to negotiate a national framework on early learning and child care.
The B.C. Liberal budget in February promised $20 million more for child care spaces in 2017-18, to a total of $352.5 million, which the province said will add 5,000 spaces to the 113,000 licensed spaces already funded.
Fassbender said he’s also hoping to for more money from Ottawa for public safety to combat guns and gangs.