Comments on: A comprehensive transit plan http://www.canadasdebate.com/2007/03/05/a-comprehensive-transit-plan/ Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:42:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.6 Lorraine on A comprehensive transit planby: http://www.canadasdebate.com/2007/03/05/a-comprehensive-transit-plan/#comment-1337 Tue, 06 Mar 2007 01:11:26 +0000 http://www.canadasdebate.com/2007/03/05/a-comprehensive-transit-plan/#comment-1337 No - tomorrows announcement is NOT new money. And the gas taxes for the cities is until 2012. What they want is for this to be permanent. In my opinion there may be a lot of changes by 2012 but they have 5 years of guaranteed funding for now. Also, city funding is usually from the provinces - so if I was a premier I would be getting a little pissed off my mayors trying to jump over them. I can see federal funding for specified projects - like transit, roads, and the newly announced infrastructure funding for upgrading and renovating post secondary institutions. But, for the Feds to put money into city pockets for "unspecified" projects otherwise bypassing the provinces is a recipe for turf wars and totally wrong. No - tomorrows announcement is NOT new money. And the gas taxes for the cities is until 2012. What they want is for this to be permanent. In my opinion there may be a lot of changes by 2012 but they have 5 years of guaranteed funding for now. Also, city funding is usually from the provinces - so if I was a premier I would be getting a little pissed off my mayors trying to jump over them. I can see federal funding for specified projects - like transit, roads, and the newly announced infrastructure funding for upgrading and renovating post secondary institutions. But, for the Feds to put money into city pockets for “unspecified” projects otherwise bypassing the provinces is a recipe for turf wars and totally wrong.

]]> Joseph on A comprehensive transit planby: http://www.canadasdebate.com/2007/03/05/a-comprehensive-transit-plan/#comment-1335 Mon, 05 Mar 2007 22:56:55 +0000 http://www.canadasdebate.com/2007/03/05/a-comprehensive-transit-plan/#comment-1335 This <em>is</em> new. The municipal governments are asking for an ongoing commitment, not a one time measure. A commitment with no strings attached and predictability is essential for transit to actually grow in Canada. It's nice of you to oblige the Conservative party line though. This is new. The municipal governments are asking for an ongoing commitment, not a one time measure. A commitment with no strings attached and predictability is essential for transit to actually grow in Canada.

It’s nice of you to oblige the Conservative party line though.

]]> Lorraine on A comprehensive transit planby: http://www.canadasdebate.com/2007/03/05/a-comprehensive-transit-plan/#comment-1334 Mon, 05 Mar 2007 22:23:56 +0000 http://www.canadasdebate.com/2007/03/05/a-comprehensive-transit-plan/#comment-1334 This $2 billion transit infrastructure funding has already been budgeted for in the 2006 Conservative budget. This is not new - just the breakdown of the allocations to the various cities is now being announced. The cities had to come up with appropriate plans and must also match funds. It has always been announced as part of the Conservative plan to also get more people on the buses and out of cars to help with cleaning up the air. This $2 billion transit infrastructure funding has already been budgeted for in the 2006 Conservative budget. This is not new - just the breakdown of the allocations to the various cities is now being announced. The cities had to come up with appropriate plans and must also match funds. It has always been announced as part of the Conservative plan to also get more people on the buses and out of cars to help with cleaning up the air.

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