Harper Government Invests to Get Calgary Moving
Distributed on behalf of the Department of Finance
There is a fact sheet associated with this press release (available in the newsroom)
The new Public Transit Fund, announced in Economic Action Plan 2015, will provide significant permanent support for large-scale public transit projects that address congestion and reduce travel time. The Public Transit Fund will also free up additional funding for a range of other infrastructure projects in municipalities across Canada under the New Building Canada Fund and the P3 Canada Fund, including smaller-scale transit projects in smaller communities.
With the Public Transit Fund, the Government of Canada has committed over $80 billion in funding to support federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal infrastructure projects across the country over the 10-year period of the New Building Canada Plan – the largest and longest infrastructure commitment in Canadian history.
Quick Facts
- PPP Canada Inc., a federal Crown corporation, will administer the PTF on behalf of the Government of Canada. The mandate of PPP Canada is to improve the delivery of public infrastructure by achieving better value, timeliness and accountability to taxpayers, through public-private partnerships (P3s).
- The Harper Government has provided unprecedented support for public transit, committing close to $5 billion for public transport projects across the country since 2006. In addition, $3 billion of the funding under the Gas Tax Fund has been allocated by municipalities to public transit projects.
Quotes
“Our Government understands that Canada’s largest cities depend on public transit infrastructure to fight gridlock, reduce congestion for people and businesses, and support economic development. The Public Transit Fund will promote public transit infrastructure investment in a manner that is affordable for taxpayers and efficient for commuters. Just as importantly, the Public Transit Fund will support the construction and rehabilitation of large public transit projects such as Calgary’s Green Line. ”
Jason Kenney, Minister of National Defence and Minister for Multiculturalism
“Calgary’s Green Line will provide relief for overcrowded transit corridors, connect Calgarians to each other and further facilitate commercial flows through the City. Federal support will be allocated to projects based on merit and delivered through alternative financing and funding mechanisms involving the private sector that demonstrate value for money for taxpayers.”
Michelle Rempel, Minister of State (Western Economic Diversification)
“Investments in public transit are amongst the very best investments any government can make. They are investments in quality of life, in mobility, in social inclusion, and in the environment. Building the Green Line LRT now means nearly doubling the size of Calgary’s LRT network and serving over 40 million riders a year. The federal government’s national Public Transit Fund will make a huge difference to commuters in cities across Canada.”
Naheed Nenshi, Mayor of Calgary
Additional Links
Contacts:
Melissa Lantsman | David Barnabe |
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