Justin Trudeau in Winnipeg Tuesday, doles out $2.5M for city transit

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was in Winnipeg Tuesday to talk transit, among other things.

Trudeau, along with Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman, announced a federal government partnership with the city on transit infrastructure.

READ MORE: Winnipeg Transit surplus $5 million higher than first predicted

Bowman said the funding agreement would see $2.8 million from the city added to $2.5 million from the federal government to make improvements to the Winnipeg Transit garage in South Osborne.

WATCH: Brian Bowman says Trudeau deal ‘delivering results for Winnipeggers’

0:56 Brian Bowman says Trudeau deal ‘delivering results for Winnipeggers’

The Public Transit Infrastructure Fund was approved in July 2018 toward significant repairs at the Fort Rouge facility.

“These garage investments will help minimize bus downtime … and help keep up with safety standards for people working in these critical areas that keep our buses moving.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "These garage investments will help minimize bus downtime … and help keep up with safety standards for people working in these critical areas that keep our buses moving.

“By working together we are delivering results for Winnipeggers, and for Canadians,” Bowman said.

Trudeau said the money is one of many infrastructure projects across the country, and will provide efficient transit that is “affordable, convenient and keeps the air clean.”

“We know that when different orders of government work together, we can achieve even better results.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We know that when different orders of government work together, we can achieve even better results."

While Trudeau was in town to discuss the funding agreement, he was called upon to answer questions about the resignation of cabinet minister Jody Wilson-Raybould.

Trudeau said he was “surprised and disappointed” Wilson-Raybould’s decision to step down.

Notably missing from the transit event was the Manitoba Premier and any other provincial representative.

Brian Pallister’s press secretary said the province wasn’t invited to Tuesday’s announcement.

Political scientist Christopher Adams said the relationship between the federal government and the province is tense.

“I think it’s been a pattern that’s been established since Pallister was elected and it’s been a tough negotiating stance with the federal Liberals.

“Some say it hasn’t served him well but some have said it has served Manitoba.”

Adams said issues like the carbon tax, Ottawa’s health deal and fixing the Churchill rail line highlighted the difficult relationship.