Ontario Construction News staff writer
Recent announcements to invest $14 billion from the federal and provincial governments towards enhancing transit connectivity in the Toronto and Hamilton regions “is very welcome news for the building trades,” said Patrick Dillon, business manager of the Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario.
“The two levels of government should be commended for setting politics aside in order to secure new infrastructure for Ontarians. This announcement coincides with the provincial government introducing legislation through Bill 288, committing to strengthen the apprenticeship and trades training system in Ontario. By working together, building trades unions, employers and government have a real opportunity to align these transit investments with the delivery of excellent training and apprenticeship programs as envisioned in the desired outcomes of the proposed legislation.”
The federal and provincial governments announced they will each contribute $1.7 billion to the 14-kilometre line to advance the “shovel-ready” project.
The 17-stop line will run from Hamilton’s Eastgate Square through the city’s downtown core to McMaster University.
The funding is part of a broader $12-billion federal transit spending package announced earlier this week that includes more than $10 billion for four projects in the Greater Toronto Area.
Those projects were first announced in April 2019, when Premier Doug Ford unveiled a $28.5-billion transit plan for the GTA. Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna said the funding is part of federal commitment to build transit projects across Canada now.
“This investment in the only shovel-ready major transit project in Hamilton, will help kick-start the economy and create good jobs,” she said.
Ontario Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney said the funding agreement will see the province increase its financial commitment to the project.
The Hamilton LRT project has been the subject of controversy for years after it was cancelled by the Progressive Conservatives in December 2019.
That sparked outrage in the city, with local officials calling it a betrayal that would hurt both the municipal and provincial economy.
The project was initially estimated to cost $1 billion when the province’s previous Liberal government committed to funding it in 2014.
The Progressive Conservatives promised during the 2018 election to move ahead with it, then re-committed to it in their 2019 budget last March before cancelling it later that year citing billions in cost escalation.
“These investments show what is possible when federal and provincial governments work together,” observed James St. John, business manager of the Central Ontario Building Trades.
“The announcements are timely in the sense that we’re trying to overcome the economic hardships resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic,” he noted, adding that “the $10.6 billion earmarked for the Toronto region will go a long way towards easing congestion.”
Hamilton-Brantford Building and Construction Trades Council also applauds the commitment to move forward with the LRT.
“The Building Trades in our community are eager to supply highly-skilled local construction workers to enhance our transit network,” said Mark Ellerker, council president.