Improving infrastructure across the GTA

OP-ED from MP Parm Gill
The health and well-being of Canada’s communities are central to the continued growth and prosperity of the Canadian economy. Maintaining and renewing our critical infrastructure by making key investments in highways and roads, bridges and public transportation will help ensure our communities keep moving and our economy keeps growing. That’s why our Conservative Government continues to take steps to help reduce gridlock across the Greater Toronto Area—helping move people and goods more efficiently—while delivering funding to help maintain and improve vital infrastructure across the GTA. Indeed, since forming government in 2006, we have committed over $3.2 billion to build a variety of transit projects. This includes investments in key projects for Brampton such as a $95 million investment for the development of Zum in Brampton, $7.6 million towards the Mount Pleasant Village Mobility Hub, and another $53 million for Phase I of Brampton’s AcceleRide program. Now, through the new Building Canada Plan, we’re expanding on those commitments with the largest and longest federal investment in job-creating infrastructure in Canadian history. The Plan commits $70 billion to public infrastructure over the next decade, including $53-billion for provincial, territorial and municipal infrastructure. For Ontario alone, the new Building Canada Plan represents almost $11 billion in dedicated federal funding. What’s more, our Government is delivering on these commitments without having to raise taxes on hard-working Canadians and families. In fact, we’ve cut taxes over 180 times, bringing the federal tax burden down to its lowest level in a generation. And we’re poised to deliver a balanced budget, helping ensure Canada’s finances stay strong and that we don’t burden our children and grandchildren with debt. Investing in this critical infrastructure is a key element of our efforts to help create jobs, growth, and long-term prosperity. Under our Conservative Government, Canada leads the G7 in job creation with over 1.2 million net new jobs since the depths of the recession. With the new Building Canada Plan, we’re continuing to help create jobs and help keep the GTA strong and prosperous.