Trudeau's political games delaying transit: Ontario
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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s political games are holding up approvals for major infrastructure projects including the crucial downtown relief line, the Ontario government says.
Ontario Infrastructure Minister Monte McNaughton and Transportation Minister Jeff Yurek held a media conference Monday in response to Trudeau telling a municipal leaders conference on May 31 that Premier Doug Ford was delaying infrastructure for political purposes.
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The federal government now has 54 Ontario projects before them for joint funding approval with more to come, McNaughton said.
“Recently, I heard Prime Minister Trudeau comment on provincial handling of infrastructure spending. I’m here today to tell you Prime Minister Trudeau is dead wrong,” McNaughton said. “Prime Minister Trudeau wants to pick a fight; instead he should pick up a shovel.”
Federal Infrastructure and Communities Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said in a statement that the Ontario government submitted its first projects for funding under the integrated bilateral agreement on Monday, although the deal was inked 14 months ago.
“Unfortunately, the provincial government’s own press release today acknowledges that their delays have caused us to miss the critical summer construction season in our most rural and northern regions of the province,” Champagne said. “The 49 projects submitted as a batch today will be assessed for approvals as expeditiously as possible, as we have committed to the province.”
The federal minister said Ontario has sought funding for transit but only for areas outside the GTHA, which would not include the downtown relief line dubbed the Ontario Line.
Yurek said he and McNaughton will work throughout the summer to develop a solid business case for the Ontario Line, which is to stretch from the Ontario Science Centre to Ontario Place, providing relief to the congested Yonge Line.
McNaughton said the Ontario government has submitted 49 road and bridge projects across Ontario and five transit projects within the GTHA, and the federal government should be providing some indication that it will pay its fair share of infrastructure projects, 40%.
“Why are they treating us differently than other provinces across the country,” McNaughton said. “Justin Trudeau needs to quite frankly put his money where his mouth is, approve these projects so the people of Ontario can benefit.”
The Ford government is on record that it will fund the Ontario Line even if the federal government refuses to pay a share.
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