RICHMOND, B.C. — Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi says the federal government will leave it up to provinces and municipalities to set priorities for using the billions in new infrastructure funding tabled in the Liberals' first budget this week.
The budget made no mention of British Columbia's priority project, the George Massey Tunnel replacement, but Sohi says the province hasn't put forward a funding application for the $3.5-billion bridge yet.
Sohi spoke to a business group today in Richmond, B.C., as part of cross-country tours by Liberal cabinet ministers to sell the benefits of their maiden budget.
Budget documents show the government has split up its infrastructure spending into two phases, with the majority of spending on large-scale projects set to take place during the second phase after 2019.
Sohi says mayors have been supportive of the two-phase approach because it allows for more time for consultation and the government aims to design a funding delivery program that is flexible and nimble with very few strings attached.
On the hotly debated Massey Tunnel replacement, he says it's up to local governments to set infrastructure priorities and the federal government will review an application when it receives one.
