Trudeau commits $1.2B in public transit, infrastructure spending in Quebec

MONTREAL – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has pledged the federal government will contribute $1.2 billion over three years towards public transit and wastewater management.

Trudeau made the announcement Tuesday after arriving at the Stinson bus garage in an STM bus, accompanied by Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard and Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre.

“We must work together to grow the economy and strengthen the middle class,” said Trudeau.

“We are investing more than $1.2 billion in the public transit infrastructure fund and the clean water and wastewater fund.”

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“With the help of the provincial and municipal governments, $2.5 billion will be invested in infrastructure in Quebec.”

The federal government will invest almost $924 million in public transit and $364 million in clean water and wastewater treatment.

READ MORE: Trudeau says Ottawa will be partners with municipalities on infrastructure

In April, Trudeau announced the federal government would focus on local transit concerns across the country.

“For students to arrive to class on time, the metros have to arrive on time,” said Trudeau.

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“For parents to spend more time at home, buses have to run faster and arrive more often. For families to have time to do activities, there has to be less congestion on the roads.”

READ MORE: Big pension funds and Ottawa look to partner and fund billions in infrastructure

The Liberals have already pledged $775 million to improve public transit in Greater Montreal over the next three years.

“We are making smart, targeted investments that will improve the lives of Quebecers across the province,” said Trudeau.

“Municipalities have an important role to play. They know what is needed in their communities.”

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The government put forward its investments in two phases.

The first focuses on immediate concerns, such as maintenance and upgrades to existing infrastructure.

“Our objectives are the same,” stated Couillard.

“Durable prosperity for everyone in our cities and in the regions.”

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The second phase is more long-term and will kick in over the next year to look at bigger projects, such as new bridges and new Metro lines.

READ MORE: Caisse announces major public transit project to link most of Greater Montreal

Montreal officials have also mused about the possibility of extending the Metro’s blue line to the east and the orange line to the north.

READ MORE: How a $100B transit investment could lower cost of goods in Canada’s North

“We’re going to focus on the second phase because we have to do it immediately,” said Coderre.

“There’s the blue line, the réseau électrique métropolitain (REM) … there are needs across the regions of Quebec.”