Close X
Friday, September 27, 2024
ADVT 
National

Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi Says New Rules, Standards Will Speed Up Funding Flows

The Canadian Press, 13 Dec, 2015 02:17 PM
    OTTAWA — Canada's new infrastructure minister says projects that are shovel-ready and meet the Liberal government's national objectives will get some of the billions in new federal cash being made available.
     
    Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi says those big objectives are threefold: grow the economy, create jobs and make the country more sustainable.
     
    Sohi says shovel ready projects mean a municipality has done all the relevant studies, public consultation and planning — to qualify for financial help from the federal government.
     
    He accused the Harper Conservatives of announcing money for projects that weren't ready to begin so they could reap some political capital.
     
    "We want to create a process where I don't go out and make announcements without even consulting with my departmental staff or getting their input or not even having an application in for that project," Sohi said in an interview with The Canadian Press.
     
    "We will develop some processes that bring in more accountability and also more transparency."
     
    That will include better explanations to cities about why a project proposal was rejected, and set new service standards like speeding up application processing times. 
     
    "If we make a commitment to a project, and if a project has been sitting on our staff's table for six months, that's unacceptable," Sohi said.
     
    The Liberals have promised to increase infrastructure spending by an average of $6 billion a year over the next 10 years, raising the federal investment to $125 billion during that time.
     
    The extra money is supposed to be spread equally to public transit projects, green infrastructure, such as wastewater facilities, and social infrastructure like affordable housing.
     
    Sohi said the government plans to refocus the government's marquee infrastructure program, the New Building Canada Fund, to focus on more cross-country projects like highways, ports, and border crossings to help speed up the flow of commercial goods and trade.
     
    Sohi didn't say whether the new money the Liberals are promising would top up a suite of existing funding programs at Infrastructure Canada, or add a new program on top of what is already there to pay for upgrades to water and wastewater systems, social housing, seniors' facilities, and infrastructure in aboriginal communities.
     
     
    "You can't fit all of those in one policy," Sohi said.
     
    "You have to design your program in a way that it acknowledges the uniqueness and then we have to adapt different approaches to meet those unique needs."
     
    The Liberals made running deficits of up to $10 billion a year to pay for the infrastructure program a key election promise. They hope the money will jolt the economy and raise federal revenues, helping to pay for their spending promises and balance the budget in four years.
     
    Prime Minister Justin Trudeau turned to Sohi, a former Edmonton city councillor, to oversee the program.
     
    Sohi defeated former Conservative cabinet minister Tim Uppal in the Alberta riding of Edmonton-Mill Woods by 92 votes in the Oct. 19 election.
     
    Sohi takes a broad definition of infrastructure: It is anything, he said, "that allows you to be part of your community." That includes public transit to get to a job or school; a shelter for a woman escaping domestic violence; affordable housing for someone living on the street.
     
    "You can't talk about infrastructure without talking about the community aspect of it. It is a means of building strong, sustainable, livable communities that we all want to be part of," he said.
     
    The reason for that definition lies in his personal background: After Sohi immigrated to Canada from India in 1981 at age 17, he took the bus in Edmonton to the library and then later classes to learn English. He later worked for the city's disabled transportation system and drove a bus for a time.
     
    "Infrastructure is a way to opportunities," he said.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Justin Trudeau Vows To Strengthen China Relations As Xi Praises Vision Of PM's Dad

    Justin Trudeau Vows To Strengthen China Relations As Xi Praises Vision Of PM's Dad
    The Chinese leader lauded what he called the extraordinary vision of the prime minister's father, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, for reaching out to his country and establishing formal diplomatic relations 45 years ago.

    Justin Trudeau Vows To Strengthen China Relations As Xi Praises Vision Of PM's Dad

    Mounties, Farmers Pitched In To Round Up Over 200 Loose Alberta Cattle

    Mounties, Farmers Pitched In To Round Up Over 200 Loose Alberta Cattle
    Const. Marshall Bevin says it was still dark when he was called out to a property east of Picture Butte, and as he drove there, he could see one of the animals headed toward the high school.

    Mounties, Farmers Pitched In To Round Up Over 200 Loose Alberta Cattle

    Justin Trudeau Tells G20 Leaders Canada Will Still Play Active Role In Terror Fight

    Justin Trudeau Tells G20 Leaders Canada Will Still Play Active Role In Terror Fight
    Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has told his fellow G20 leaders that Canada will continue to make a strong military contribution in the fight against Islamic militants — but it won't be from the air.

    Justin Trudeau Tells G20 Leaders Canada Will Still Play Active Role In Terror Fight

    Thrilling Walk With History's Spirits At Victoria's Ross Bay Cemetery

    Thrilling Walk With History's Spirits At Victoria's Ross Bay Cemetery
    A hike through the winding, tree-lined 40-hectare Ross Bay Cemetery includes spectacular views of the ocean with Washington state's Olympic mountains in the distance.

    Thrilling Walk With History's Spirits At Victoria's Ross Bay Cemetery

    Vandals Break Windows At Kitchener, Ont., Hindu Temple; Police Investigate

    Vandals Break Windows At Kitchener, Ont., Hindu Temple; Police Investigate
    Ram Dham Hindu Temple president Dilip Dav says several windows at the rear entrance of the temple were shattered late Sunday night.

    Vandals Break Windows At Kitchener, Ont., Hindu Temple; Police Investigate

    One Sikh Man’s Tweet About Paris Attacks Goes Viral And Shows Kindness Knows No Religion

    One Sikh Man’s Tweet About Paris Attacks Goes Viral And Shows Kindness Knows No Religion
    Rohan Singh Kalsi used the #PorteOuverte hashtag to give advice to those looking for shelter in the French capital.

    One Sikh Man’s Tweet About Paris Attacks Goes Viral And Shows Kindness Knows No Religion