Federal NDP promises $5 billion in new transit funding to the Lower Mainland over 20 years
NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair says that if his party forms government, he'll transfer an extra penny per litre in gas tax to alleviate traffic congestion in the Lower Mainland.
Mulcair made the announcement at Creekside Park alongside the NDP's candidate for Vancouver East, Jenny Kwan.
It came shortly after he outlined his infrastructure plan to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. In an earlier address, he noted that Canada has a $172-billion infrastructure deficit.
The NDP leader says his plan would deliver $1.3 billion annually in transit funding for municipalities over the next two decades.
Today, Mulcair indicated that this would amount to $5 billion in new money for the Lower Mainland over 20 years.
"An NDP government will be a real partner to Canada's municipalities with predictable, long-term investments to build and repair infrastructure and reduce commute times," Mulcair said in a news release after the announcement.
The NDP has also promised to build 10,000 "affordable and market rental housing units" across the country if it's elected.
Comments
9 Comments
Bart69
Jun 7, 2015 at 4:34pm
Do now it's going to be 18 cents a litre in gas tax???? Isn't it already enough??
View from the Coast
Jun 7, 2015 at 10:33pm
Hardly a peep from these people when gas moves 10 cents a liter overnight, but just put the word tax in a story and they light their hair on fire.
Chris Green
Jun 7, 2015 at 11:08pm
Reading the press release announcing the policy, it appears that there is no increase to the gas tax at the pump. One more cent per litre of the existing tax will be transferred to municipalities for transit and transportation infrastructure, instead of being kept as federal government general revenue.
http://www.ndp.ca/news/tom-mulcairs-plan-to-build-stronger-cities-and-co...
Sgt Transom
Jun 8, 2015 at 12:46pm
The Federal NDP are looking better and better. I think it's time they were given a shot.
Vancouver Watcher
Jun 8, 2015 at 4:19pm
The federal NDP lost my confidence when they let Jenny Kwan and Constance Barnes be nominated as candidates. Unfortunately, for the party, they represent the old type of NDP which has been rejected by the voters time and time again. They are both full of contempt towards those who disagree with them, bitter with a chip on their shoulders and will do or say anything to get a headline. They remind me of Svend Robinson and look where he ended up. How sad for the voters and the NDP's chances in the next election.
Uwsofty
Jun 8, 2015 at 8:10pm
Canada needs a national public transit strategy. Good on the NDP for thinking about cities.
Kim
Jun 9, 2015 at 12:20pm
What I would like to know is what are the cities doing with their tax dollars. Why are the always looking to senior governments for money?
Cheers
AmandaKR
Jun 9, 2015 at 2:12pm
@Kim
Well in the Lower Mainland which Mulclair is talking about, Christy Clark gave a tax break to the rich there that would have paid for transit 10x over. So if asking what the cities are doing with their tax dollars.. The BC premier dumped them into the pockets of Corporations and the Rich.
Hanna
Jun 10, 2015 at 11:11am
I definitely think Mulcair and the NDP have a good chance in the next election. Many I know want Harper out, and we all know Trudeau doesn't stand a chance.