OTTAWA--Green Party Leader Elizabeth May congratulated Toronto City Council for stepping into the breach and saving the contract for Bombardier streetcars. The deadline was looming for this Sunday when Toronto Council approved over $300 million in additional funding, increasing Toronto's share to cover the gap created when Minister of Transport John Baird refused funding, saying the project did not meet the federal government's criteria for economic stimulus funding.
"With jobs in Thunder Bay, Manitoba and Quebec hanging in the balance, we commend Toronto City Council for finding a creative solution. Now, we urge the federal government to fund the new request for other infrastructure projects from Toronto. Toronto has pursued Baird's suggestion for ways the federal government can fund Toronto infrastructure. It's time for the federal government to meet Toronto half-way and fund projects to a level of at least the equivalent amount for their share of the streetcar project," said Ms. May.
Last week Elizabeth May and the Greens had urged the project to be reconfigured as a request from Thunder Bay to ensure that the streetcar project proceeded. Ms. May met with Thunder Bay Mayor Lynn Peterson last Monday and spoke with Toronto Mayor David Miller earlier in the week. "The streetcar project proves the resiliency and creativity of the municipal governments in this country," said Ms. May.
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Contact:
Debra Eindiguer-Zimmermann
613-562-4916, ext. 239
613-614-4916
debra@greenparty.ca