TransLink hopes Manley will fund municipal projects
VANCOUVER, B.C. — TransLink chairman, Doug McCallum, is keeping his fingers crossed in hopes new federal Finance Minister, John Manley will help cities with transportation funding.
Former Finance Minister, Paul Martin, was opposed to the idea until shortly before his firing when he made some comments leading some observers to believe he was pulling a 180. Martin recently admitted cities need ongoing sources of money for infrastructure and acknowledged cities are the engine driving Canada’s economy.
McCallum says that as such, municipalities need fuel to keep those engines going.
“I think you’re going to see some movement in the short term,” McCallum tells local media. “Even though Paul Martin has left, I think you will see that.”
McCallum suggests more of federal gas tax be redirected back to municipalities for transportation projects. The Lower Mainland contributes more than $300 million in fuel taxes but gets back little or none.
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