Vancouver is among the cities lining up for billions in funding promised by the Liberals during last fall’s federal election campaign.
[Mr. Sohli] said Ottawa will definitely be looking at a greater role for the federal government. However, he also suggested such change may not come in the first phase of federal infrastructure funding. The government has committed to spending $60-billion on infrastructure over the next decade, with $20-billion each focused on public transit, green infrastructure and social infrastructure.
Mr. Sohi repeated Ottawa’s support for the subway project on Thursday as well as for a light-rail system in Surrey, but details of those commitments remain to be outlined. Mr. Robertson estimated that cities collect about 10 per cent of tax revenue, behind 50 per cent for Ottawa and 40 per cent for provinces. He said a “fair funding formula” would allow greater movement on such transit projects as the Broadway subway.
Last year, voters in a regional plebiscite rejected a proposal for a new Vancouver-area sales tax to help raise additional funds for transit expansion, including the Broadway subway.