The Union of Quebec Municipalities (UMQ) deplores the fact that cities “are deprived” of $350 million that could be invested in public transit and green infrastructure, due to “a new direction from the federal government”.
In a statement released Thursday, theUMQ asks the government to remit, as planned, an amount of $350 million to the Government of Quebec, as stipulated in the Canada-Quebec bilateral agreement for the infrastructure program.
On behalf of all Quebec municipalities, I ask the federal government to reconsider its positionunderlined the president of theUMQ and Mayor of Gaspé, Daniel Côté.
The president of theUMQ misunderstands, in a context of climate emergency, the direction of the federal government not to transfer this amount, as stipulated in the agreement.
The mayoress of Montreal was also disappointed with Ottawa’s decision, as federal deputies prepare to leave parliament for the summer on Thursday.
We learned this morning that Ottawa is depriving cities of $350 million for public transit and [infrastructures] green. Cities are on the front line in the fight against the climate crisis. They must have the necessary resources. The federal government must respect its agreementwrote Valérie Plante on Twitter.
Unused balances transferred to Quebec
Candiac Mayor Normand Dyotte told The Canadian Press that these are balances of different programs, one on public transit and there is $300 million, and one of $50 million on waste water funds, which have not been spent for a few years.
However, according to Mr. Dyotte, the agreement provided that balances that are not used are transferred to the new bilateral agreement from 2018 to 2028.
For municipalities, it’s important, we need to invest in public transitadded Mayor Dyotte.
In its statement, theUMQ specifies that the federal government had undertaken to add to the amounts earmarked for the public transit and green infrastructure components of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, the residual amounts from the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund (PTIF) and the Drinking Water and Wastewater Treatment Fund (FEPTEU), equivalent to $350 million. However, last May, the federal government mentioned that it no longer intended to pay this amount to the Government of Quebec, but to allocate it to the consolidated fund.
The Canadian Press
Source: Radio-Canada
