Saint John-Rothesay MP Wayne Long (Image: Danielle McCreadie)
Saint John-Rothesay MP Wayne Long says he’s disappointed the provincial government has chosen to reject federal funding for transit projects.
The money is part of $200 million of a $1.8-billion federal fund being made available to the provinces for transit. Provincial governments would be on the hook to match the funds donated by the federal government.
Long says the Higgs government’s decision to opt out of the transit funding is “short-sighted,” calling a good public transit system a “great equalizer” for a community.
“It’s a way for those that don’t have a vehicle, for those living in poverty, for those in different neighbourhoods in our community to be able to get to work, to get home, to get their kids to daycare and back,” Long said.
The MP believes the funds are integral to helping out his riding in Saint John.
“As we see in other communities, a vibrant public transit system is key to the growth and health of a community,” Long said.
Long says that he sees the funding as an opportunity for government to invest in its communities, especially New Brunswick’s big three cities of Saint John, Fredericton and Moncton.
He believes that Premier Higgs sees the funds as cost-prohibitive because of the requirement to match the federal funds.
At a Saint John finance committee meeting last week, a Saint John Transit report detailed a deficit of over $500,000.
Mayor Don Darling said there has been some discussion of municipalities teaming up to access the funds.
“I’ve been in conversations with my tri-city colleagues today about more advocacy to ask the premier and his colleagues to reconsider (the federal funding for transit) and certainly hope there’s support from this committee for that as well,” the mayor said.
Long says he’s willing to take that offer to Ottawa should the municipalities firm up a compromise, though he doesn’t believe they should be responsible for attaining the funds.
“I do think it’s extremely disappointing the province is side-stepping their responsibility, and dumping this on Saint John and Saint John Transit to have to invest.”
