TransLink minister casts doubt on long-term federal transit funding

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – If local leaders are counting on the feds to fund half of the full 10-year transit plan put forward by the Mayors’ Council, the minister responsible for TransLink says that’s no sure thing.

When Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government announced it would pay 50 per cent of Phase 1 of the Mayors’ Councils transit plan, there was huge relief from those pushing to expand our system which is struggling to meet ever increasing demand.

But if mayors expect that rate of contribution to continue for the following seven years of that plan, Minister Peter Fassbender, who oversees TransLink, says that shouldn’t be counted on.

“I’ve spoken with the federal minister, and we’ve spoken with the Prime Minister’s Office,” says Fassbender. “They clearly have said that transit is a major initiative. But they’re working on their next budget, so they’ve not confirmed even their level of funding beyond Phase 1.”

Fassbender is hitting out at comments made this week by BC NDP leader John Horgan, who has pledged if his party forms government, the province will pay 40 per cent of the capital costs of the 10-year transit plan. That would mark an increase on the 33 per cent pledged by Fassbender’s BC Liberals.

“The federal government clearly has not made any decisions yet,” says Fassbender. “There’s all kinds of suggestions what they might do.”

Local mayors approved a draft version of their plan for Phase 1 on Friday, meaning bus capacity will see a 10 percent increase, with that rollout beginning next year if the plan is approved in November.

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