Infrastructure Money To Flow Once Budget Is Passed: Minister Amarjeet Sohi

TORONTO — The federal infrastructure minister says money for projects meant to stimulate the economy will start flowing soon — but not before the budget is passed.

 

After a speech to the Toronto Region Board of Trade on Thursday, Amarjeet Sohi said his goal is to ensure investments can be made in the next construction season.

 

He says the current economic situation makes the need for those investments "urgent," but adds there is a process to go through and the government will get money out to communities "as quickly as possible" once the budget is finalized and passed.

 

The original Liberal plan was to divide $60 billion among public transit, green projects, and social infrastructure like affordable housing over 10 years, with just $17.4 billion earmarked to flow during the party's first mandate.

 

 

Insiders have told The Canadian Press the Liberals are "actively" considering speeding up delivery of the new infrastructure spending.

 

Sohi says he is exploring heavily investing in repairs and deferred maintenance for the first two years of infrastructure spending, though he says that doesn't mean new projects wouldn't be supported too.