Close X
Monday, November 11, 2024
ADVT 
National

Prime Minister Trudeau Announces Up To $86.5 Million For Halifax Expressway

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 21 Feb, 2019 09:10 PM

    HALIFAX — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced up to $86.5-million to improve an expressway into Halifax, predicting the work will make commutes safer and swifter.


    Trudeau said Thursday the federal money would help extend the Highway 107 Burnside Connector and build a high-speed bypass to connect Highways 101, 102, and 118.


    "We know that families are going to get to work and back home quicker because of this investment," the prime minister said.


    "We know that moving forward on something that's been talked about for so many decades . . . is something that a lot of families around here have been waiting for."


    The federal money from the Building Canada Fund is in addition to $107-million announced by the province, while the Halifax Regional Municipality will provide the remainder.


    Later on Thursday, Trudeau is expected to take part in a tour of historical exhibits at the Black Cultural Centre in the community of Cherry Brook.


    He is also to meet with a youth group before delivering a speech in recognition of black history. It's expected Trudeau would also extend a personal apology to those who were part of a group that were singled out in an apparent case of racial profiling during a visit to Parliament Hill earlier this month.


    The incident took place during an event called Black Voices on the Hill, prompting a complaint to the Speaker from Liberal MP Greg Fergus.


    The Federation of Black Canadians said several participants in the lobbying event were referred to as "dark-skinned people'' and asked to leave a parliamentary cafeteria.


    The Parliamentary Protective Service apologized at the time and said the force was investigating the incident.


    In the House of Commons on Tuesday, Speaker Geoff Regan called the service's apology a welcome first step, but said it shouldn't be seen as closing the issue or as a way to erase the harsh and unacceptable reality of what happened.


    "What was reported as happening was completely unacceptable," Trudeau said Thursday. "The Parliament Buildings belong to all Canadians and the opportunity to access them freely in a moment . . . of celebration of Black History Month should not have been tarnished by these actions that we've heard about."


    Trudeau said he was looking forward to meeting with the group.


    "We all have a responsibility as parliamentarians as Canadians to ensure that everyone is fully welcome everywhere in this country," he said.


    "We have to recognize unfortunately that there are still barriers, there is still systemic racism in this country — anti-black racism that can rear its head at surprising and unfortunate times and we need to make sure that we are responding appropriately."


    Trudeau began his visit by attending a vigil Wednesday night for a Syrian family that lost seven children in a house fire earlier in the week, before attending a fundraising gathering of Liberal donors at a Halifax hotel.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Almost Half Of EI Sickness-Benefit Recipients Off Work Longer Than Help Lasts

    Almost Half Of EI Sickness-Benefit Recipients Off Work Longer Than Help Lasts
    An internal government survey of people who used federal sickness benefits has found that nearly half were unable to work for longer than the 15 weeks the benefits last.

    Almost Half Of EI Sickness-Benefit Recipients Off Work Longer Than Help Lasts

    Teacher Who Recorded Students With Pen Camera Is Guilty Of Voyeurism: High Court

    Teacher Who Recorded Students With Pen Camera Is Guilty Of Voyeurism: High Court
    A high-school teacher who used a pen camera to surreptitiously take videos of female students is guilty of voyeurism, the Supreme Court of Canada has ruled.

    Teacher Who Recorded Students With Pen Camera Is Guilty Of Voyeurism: High Court

    Three Who Tried To Stop Fight Hurt, Three Others Arrested In Whistler, B.C.

    Three Who Tried To Stop Fight Hurt, Three Others Arrested In Whistler, B.C.
    The RCMP say three males who tried to break up a fight early Monday in Whistler, B.C., were stabbed.

    Three Who Tried To Stop Fight Hurt, Three Others Arrested In Whistler, B.C.

    Liberals Announce Partners That Will Run Arm's Length Skills Development Agency

    The Liberals have committed $225 million over four years for the arm's-length agency, starting this fiscal year, and $75 million annually in subsequent years.

    Liberals Announce Partners That Will Run Arm's Length Skills Development Agency

    New Details In Lindsay Souvannarath’s Appeal Of Sentence In Halifax Mall Plot

    HALIFAX — New court documents reveal details of how one of the masterminds of a foiled plot to attack a Halifax mall on Valentine's Day plans to appeal her life sentence.

    New Details In Lindsay Souvannarath’s Appeal Of Sentence In Halifax Mall Plot

    Wealthy Nova Scotia Thief John Mark Tillmann Who Filled Home With Pilfered Artifacts, Art Has Died

    A man who filled his suburban lakeside home with historic artifacts and art stolen over decades of pilfering so stealthy that many of his targets didn't even know they'd been victimized has died.

    Wealthy Nova Scotia Thief John Mark Tillmann Who Filled Home With Pilfered Artifacts, Art Has Died