Thursday, November 20, 2008

Throne speech sets the stage for transit funding


As Governor General Michaƫlle Jean read the incoming government's Speech from the Throne, entitled "Protecting Canada's Future", it became evident that now is the time to lobby the federal government for funding of public transit infrastructure projects--like the City of Ottawa's. The Speech highlighted the need to invest in infrastructure to invest in job-generation presently, and also for the future, and the need to continue along with the Building Canada plan.

"Public infrastructure is vital not only to create jobs for today, but also to create the links between communities and regions to help generate jobs for the future. Our Government is committed to expediting our Building Canada plan to ensure that projects are delivered as quickly as possible."

The Building Canada plan, for the record, is intended to provide "stable, flexible and predictable funding to Canadian municipalities." It is an initiative of Infrastructure Canada, which may benefit the Ottawa because Ottawa West-Nepean MPP John Baird is the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure, and Communities, and as a result would have some sway over the projects funded under the Building Canada umbrella.

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