Modeling Journey

Conservative Transit Announcement Great for GTA and York Region

This announcement is great news for York Region and commuters in the GTA. A good example of Stephen Harper and the Conservative Party brining actual results to our riding.
-Darryl

Government of Canada invests in Toronto Transit: Flaherty announces funds will begin flowing to Spadina Subway Extension

TORONTO, Sept. 5 /CNW/ - People living and working in Toronto will begin
to benefit soon from reduced traffic congestion, shorter commuting times, and
cleaner air through the Toronto-York Spadina Subway extension. The Honourable
Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, on behalf of the Honourable Lawrence
Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, today announced
that a contribution agreement has been signed by the federal, provincial and
municipal governments, meaning that funds for the completion of the project
will now begin flowing.

"The Government of Canada is helping to provide the students, commuters,
and families of the Greater Toronto Area with transportation options, getting
people out of their cars and onto public transit," said Minister Flaherty. "We
are committed to working with our provincial and municipal partners to improve
transportation infrastructure across the country. The Toronto-York Spadina
Subway extension is an excellent example of how we're delivering real
results."

The Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension project encompasses an
8.6 kilometre extension to the Toronto Transit Commission's Spadina subway
line, extending subway service to York University and the Vaughan Corporate
Centre. With the signing of the contribution agreement, the Government of
Canada will commit to paying up to $622 million under the Building Canada
infrastructure plan towards the design and construction of this project. This
is in addition to the $75 million already received by the project under the
Public Transit Capital Trust.

In addition to the funding being made available for the Spadina Subway
extension, several other transit projects in the GTA are being funded by the
Government of Canada. They include:

- York VIVA (Phase 1) - $50 million toward a $164 million bus rapid
transit project;
- York VIVA (Phase 2) - up to $85 million toward the second phase of this
bus rapid transit project;
- GO Transit Rail Improvement Program - $385 million toward a $1 billion
project; Through this project, six of the seven rail corridors being
used by GO are being upgraded, as well as some work around Union
Station;
- Brampton AcceleRide - $95 million from the Canada Strategic
Infrastructure Fund toward a $285 million Bus Rapid Transit project;
- Mississauga Bus Rapid Transit - $83 million from the Canada Strategic
Infrastructure Fund toward a $249 million project; and
- Toronto Transit Commission Strategic Capital Projects - $350 million
from the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund towards a $1.2 billion
project.


The Government of Canada provided $500 million for public transit
infrastructure in Budget 2008. This will provide up to $194.5 million to
Ontario under the Public Transit Fund. Under the previous Public Transit
Capital Trust, the Province of Ontario has received $351.5 million, which it
can use for various transit projects over the next three years. In addition,
all Ontario municipalities will continue to receive a GST rebate.

"It's clear that for the Government of Canada, investing in
transportation infrastructure for the people of the GTA has been a key
priority," Minister Flaherty said. "We are delivering on this priority even
further today with the Spadina Subway extension."

For further information: Chisholm Pothier, Press Secretary, Office of
the Minister of Finance, (613) 996-7861; Transport Canada is online at
www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at www.tc.gc.ca/e-news
and keep up to date on the latest from Transport Canada. This news release may
be made available in alternative formats for persons with visual
disabilities.

This announcement is great news for Ontario, Toronto and York Region. Kudos to both the Harper government and the current Ontario provincial government for getting this done. Now lets get some shovels in the ground. The subway extension to York university and funding for Viva transit are crucial to relieving gridlock in York Region.
-Darryl



Feds to invest more than $3B in Ont. infrastructure

Updated Thu. Jul. 24 2008 5:33 PM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

Ontario will receive about $6.2 billion dollars from federal and provincial coffers to improve infrastructure, Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon announced Thursday.

Cannon said Ottawa will give more than $3 billion to help repair the province's aging roads, bridges and other infrastructure.

The provincial government of Ontario has promised to match the amount, raising the total to the $6.2 billion mark.

The minister, speaking to reporters in London, Ont., said the funding was long overdue for the province.

A large portion of the money will be spent on improvements to the Trans-Canada Highway in northwestern Ontario, rural broadband coverage in southern and eastern Ontario and rapid transit in the Kitchener-Waterloo Region.

"Our government will work with Ontario to identify and deliver upon those infrastructure needs most critical to Ontarians," said Cannon. "We will do that in the spirit of open federalism and co-operation."

The minister said ensuring the "economic and environmental viability and vitality of Canada" was a top priority for the federal government.

"Investments in infrastructure help support a stronger economy, a cleaner environment and a more secure Canada," he said.

Ontario Deputy Premier George Smitherman said Thursday's announcement proves that both levels of government are working together to build a stronger province.

The money is also expected to help create jobs in the province, which has been hard hit by cutbacks in the manufacturing and auto sector.

The federal-provincial deal will stretch until 2014.

With files from The Canadian Press