Stephen Harper, friend of Ontario
So Stephen Harper is in the GTA today, and much to my surprise he is actually making a meaningful commitment.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has unveiled a Greater Toronto Area anti-gridlock green strategy worth up to $1.53 billion.
In an election campaign style event, Harper announced this morning in Downsview that his government will spend up to $962 million for public transit projects.
People can cry “Alas the farmers,” all they want, but the fact is that this nations transportation infrastructure is in a shambles from coast to coast, and nowhere does the situation cost more than in the GTA. It has practical costs in terms of money, productivity and environmental damage. So Stephen Harpers gesture is a much appreciated, albeit unexpected one.
Of course, I am also the enjoying the irony of Harper engaging in yet another practise that he criticized the Liberals for unmercifully for years: the practise of making end of year spending announcements, or announcements leading up to an election.
Harper is becoming famous for doing what the Liberals did to the PCs in the past. I guess you use what works…
Comment by Eric — March 6, 2007 @ 7:37 pm
Lol here is something quite interesting.
Your right, infastructure in Canada is terrible. Right across the country.
Anyways, Toronto gets a 1 billion for it’s Subway and highways outside the city. Fair enough, it’s needed.
Currently Calgary is building a ring road around the city (not through the city, just in rural areas surrounding it). The Liberals kicked in 75 million dollars for the project (about a third of the cost).
Now Calgary is building a new West Bound LRT line, which should help alievate gridlock in the western half of the city. Canada’s New Government isn’t kicking in any money.
A billion dollars in Calgary would not only build that line, but replace our aging LRV fleet move the downtown LRT underground and build the SE and Centre-North Lines. Yep all that.
In Vancouver, for it’s Olympic Infrastructure projects, the city gets a loan from Canada’s new government.
Now Mr. Harper, are you not fighting “Western Alienation?”
Comment by Wild Rose Grit — March 6, 2007 @ 8:47 pm
I forgot one point, the province is paying for the West LRT . But still it just doesn’t seem fair. Especially when this party campaigned on Western Alienation.
As I recall the province was going to pay for the entire ring road. But was able to get the federal government to pay for 70 million for the project.
Comment by Wild Rose Grit — March 6, 2007 @ 9:03 pm
While I am familiar with the gridlock problem currently facing Calgary, trust me when I say that the money is desperately needed in Toronto.
I’m curious where you developed the $1 Billion number for to bury an LRT. In Toronto it costs $250 million just to build one subway stop and the accompanying length of track.
Comment by Joseph — March 6, 2007 @ 10:00 pm
The CPC has no care or concern for the people in the West. Their lack of support for the prairie cities like Edmonton and Calgary just proves it. The whole thing faux populism thing is a cynical strategy to guarantee themselves a strong base of support, and that’s it.
Comment by Red Jenny — March 8, 2007 @ 10:53 am
I won’t dispute that either.
Comment by Joseph — March 8, 2007 @ 11:02 am