Greater Victoria News

Federal Transit Funding Good News for Capital Region

MEDIA RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Federal Transit Funding Good News for Capital Region

April 21, 2015 – Victoria, BC – The inclusion of significant funding, $750 million, in the federal budget represents a valuable opportunity for the capital region. Transportation is the key to continued economic vibrancy for our community as the capital continues to grow and more development takes place, we must continue to invest in our transportation infrastructure.

“We have significant transportation challenges to/from the Westshore and increasing Transit ridership is key to alleviating that congestion. The investment of transit funding to advance the bus only lanes along the highway would benefit the entire region.” said Bruce Carter, CEO of The Chamber.

“The balancing of the federal budget is particularly important to our economy and continued fiscal prudence is needed in this volatile economic environment. At the same time, it is sage to allocate funds to infrastructure funding.” said Carter.

Points of note:

• $750 million in transit funding and $1 billion a year thereafter
• $5.8 billion in new infrastructure funding
• $86 million in Forestry Innovation
• Support for new Tourism Campaign in the USA
• Reduction of EI premiums in 2017

The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, with over 1,400 members, is the voice of business for the Greater Victoria region and has received Accreditation with Distinction from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

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