Mississauga Liberal MP’s Demand Funding for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)

 MISSISSAUGA – Today, Mississauga Members of Parliament, the Hon. Navdeep Singh Bains, the Hon. Gurbax Malhi, Paul Szabo, and Omar Alghabra wrote an open letter to the Hon. Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities demanding that the Conservative Government release $83 million promised to the city for its BRT. 

 “Traffic gridlock in Mississauga is reaching crisis proportions,” said Mr. Bains.  “Minister Cannon must direct his department to release the $83 million promised to Mississauga in March.”

 “I am deeply disappointed by the direction the Conservative Government has taken here," said Hon. Gurbax Malhi.  "Why is Minister Cannon stalling on this important issue?" 

 The Liberal MP’s were responding to concerns raised by local area mayors, including Mississauga’s Hazel McCallion and Toronto’s David Miller.  They citied the fact that both the provincial and municipal governments have committed their share of the money and are awaiting the federal government’s approval before any of the five promised projects can begin.

 “It is unacceptable, that after committing to this project six months ago, the Conservative Government still has not provided any of the promised funding,” said Mr. Alghabra.  “This is just another example of how Mr. Harper is failing Mississauga.”  

“It seems to me that this Government is only interested in photo–ops,” said Mr. Bains. “When it comes to actually funding infrastructure projects in Mississauga this Government is missing in action.”

 Gridlock in the GTA costs $2 billion annually in lost productivity.  During the same time the Federal Conservative Government has amassed a $14 billion surplus.

 

Mississauga

September 27^th, 2007

The Honourable Lawrence Cannon
Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
Tower C - 330 Sparks St.
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
K1A 0N5

Dear Minister Cannon, 

We, the Members of the Liberal Party Caucus for the City of Mississauga, urgently call on you to release the promised $83 million in funding for the Mississauga Bus Rapid Transit (BRT).  Gridlock in Mississauga is growing at an exponential rate and funding for this project cannot wait until next year.

We fully support Mayor Hazel McCallion, and other regional mayors in their call for increased funding for transportation in the GTA.  We call on the Government to release the $962 million promised in March 2007.  However, in order to truly address the issue, strong, decisive action is needed.  In the GTA alone, the cost of gridlock to the economy is about $2 billion annually.  The promise made by this Government will only slow the growth of our traffic problem but will not stop it. 

We implore the Government to follow up on its commitment to the Mississauga BRT with concrete action so that there can finally be a start to alleviating gridlock.  Action must be taken to decrease red tape and start funding these worthwhile programs.

Sincerely,

Omar Alghabra M.P.

Hon. Navdeep Singh Bains, P.C., M.P.

Hon. Gurbax Singh Malhi, PC, M.P.

Paul Szabo, M.P.