“Liberal Express” rides through the region
Posted Jul 26, 2010 03:37:25 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The “Liberal Express” made a stop in Waterloo Region on Monday, and brought with it promises of support for rapid transit in our community. Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff said he fully supports the initiative and believes the federal government needs to be a funding partner in the project.
The region’s ambitious $800-million plan is stuck in the station at present after a less-than-expected $300-million commitment from the province. The federal government is yet to announce a financial commitment of its own, although Ottawa had suggested $100-million would be available in the project’s early stages. Based on comments made last year by Conservative MP Gary Goodyear, the federal commitment may have increased to about $160-million. Since learning of the province’s commitment, the region has publicly spoken of its desire to see the federal government match the $300-million given by the province.
“I’ve always believed in rapid transit,” Michael Ignatieff told reporters gathered at Kitchener’s Museum, where the Liberal Express made a stop Monday afternoon. “I want this rapid transit ultimately linked into the GO system. The key here is to give people alternatives to the car.”
Ignatieff used Vancouver as an example of how a rapid transit initiative can have a tremendous impact on a region’s economy. “You look at the Vancouver-Canada line, going in from the airport to downtown Vancouver,” he says.”That has just lifted Vancouver up and that’s the kind of good, positive effect that light, rapid transit can have on a whole region.”
Ignatieff says a Liberal government would be at the rapid transit table with the province and other funding partners but he did not attach a dollar figure to that commitment. The federal Conservatives have not withdrawn their financial support for the project but also have not attached a dollar figure.
Ignatieff’s day began in Guelph where he visited a senior’s residence and hospital before moving on to Cambridge and a visit to Tim Horton’s. While at the Museum, CEO David Marskell took Ignatieff on a tour of the new Cosmic Mania exhibit and Ignatieff also took the time to answer questions from children attending a kids camp. His stop in the region concludes Monday evening with a fundraising barbecue at Bingeman’s.
