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Robertson has mixed feelings about federal budget

Mayor Gregor Robertson welcomed infrastructure spending in today’s federal budget, but said it was a “disappointment” the Harper government didn’t commit more funding to housing and transit.

Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty announced almost $12 billion for public works projects across the country as part of a $40 billion economic stimulus package, the largest in Canadian history.

As part of the deal outlined by the Conservatives, municipalities and provinces will have to pitch in close to $9 billion in order to receive federal funding. Mayor Robertson said Vancouver has about $70 million set aside to fast-track storm water and sewage system projects that will keep contaminants out of the city’s waterways.

“It will make a real difference environmentally,” he said.

Robertson added the city also has the resources to put forward between $40 and $50 million to match federal funding for upgrades to the Burrard and Granville Street bridges.

“We look forward to seeing those infrastructure dollars flow to Vancouver,” he said.

But the mayor said he was disappointed that the federal budget didn't include money for building new social housing units in Vancouver.

Though the Conservative stimulus package includes about $2 billion for social housing, half of that is slated for renovations and upgrades on existing units, while the rest will go towards senior citizen and First Nations reserve housing.

“What we really need in Vancouver is to create new housing,” he said. “There aren’t new dollars specifically for that which is a disappointment.”

Robertson also criticized the Harper government for not making a firm commitment to improving Vancouver’s transit system. The federal budget outlines plans to support the Evergreen Line to Coquitlam, but doesn’t make any firm dollar promises for public transit.

Robertson said the city needs “hundred and hundreds” of new buses while projects such as the planned Millennium Line extension to the University of British Columbia have been delayed for a lack of funding.

“This was a great opportunity to invest in transit infrastructure,” he said. “The jobs are in Canada to build the buses and trains so it’s a bit confounding that there isn’t more there.”

Robertson said he thinks federal stimulus money could come to Canadian cities through the provinces. He added the Harper government must make sure that municipalities recieve the aid as fast as possible.

“We need to see the funding quickly. It can’t get tied up in applications and process and never make it to the cities. Right now we need that investment.”

Geoff Dembicki is a staff reporter for the Hook.


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