Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault says the federal government will stop investing in new road infrastructure — a comment that immediately drew the ire of the Opposition Conservatives and some premiers who said the climate activist turned politician is out of touch.
Guilbeault said Tuesday the government will be there to support provinces paying for maintenance but Ottawa has decided that the existing road infrastructure “is perfectly adequate to respond to the needs we have.”
“There will be no more envelopes from the federal government to enlarge the road network,” Guilbeault said, according to quotes published in the Montreal Gazette.
“We can very well achieve our goals of economic, social and human development without more enlargement of the road network.”
Guilbeault said the federal government is intent on moving people out of their cars and into public transportation, which the government has spent billions to build.
The federal government also wants to encourage “active transportation,” which means getting people to walk and cycle.
I don’t disagree at all, but I do want to caution that as people who support changes in where investment money goes we have to make sure that “big city” changes like high speed rail aren’t all we talk about. The opponents have a good talking point regarding people who drive 10,20,50 km to work not having access to bus or rail. Yes, that is often the fault of those provincial leaders not investing in it, but it doesn’t change the criticism. We need to make sure we are investing in rural provinces and suburban areas to make public transport preferable in those areas too. Especially town to town transport or we won’t win rural support.
When Greyhound shut down and the feds did nothing, they missed a prime opportunity to help instead of hinder. It could have been used as a major election plank as well, ie: promise fulfilled.
Unfortunately we may well have the big-C’s back in power instead. :(