Sohi tries to dispel fees fears

OTTAWA — Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi says it’s not up to the federal government to decide whether to impose user fees on infrastructure projects built with financing from private investors.

He’s says that’s up to provinces and municipalities.

The spectre of toll roads and fees to use other public infrastructure has been raised repeatedly since the federal government announced its intention to create an infrastructure bank — aimed at leveraging $4-5 in private-sector funding for every $1 in government funding.

Opponents say private investors will demand a return that will inevitably mean imposing tolls and user fees. Sohi says the projects that the bank will be supporting will be owned by municipalities and provinces and it will be up to them to decide how to assure a return on investment for the private-sector partners.