Close X
Tuesday, November 12, 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

    Police Arrested Bruce McArthur Moments Before He May Have Killed Again, Court Hears

    Bruce McArthur was likely moments away from murdering a ninth man from Toronto's gay community when police moved in to arrest the serial killer.

    Police Arrested Bruce McArthur Moments Before He May Have Killed Again, Court Hears

    Federal Competition Bureau Calls For Rethink Of B.C. Taxi Regulations

    Federal Competition Bureau Calls For Rethink Of B.C. Taxi Regulations
    VICTORIA — The federal Competition Bureau wants British Columbia to re-examine its taxi regulations to permit more competition in the industry and improve services for riders and businesses.

    Federal Competition Bureau Calls For Rethink Of B.C. Taxi Regulations

    Montreal Man On Trial For Murder Of Wife With Alzheimer's Testifies About Her Death

    Montreal Man On Trial For Murder Of Wife With Alzheimer's Testifies About Her Death
    MONTREAL — A Quebec man on trial for the death of his ailing wife has told jurors he suffocated her with a pillow to end her suffering.

    Montreal Man On Trial For Murder Of Wife With Alzheimer's Testifies About Her Death

    Refugees Hoping To Become Citizens Face High Bar To Achieve Language Benchmarks

    Refugees Hoping To Become Citizens Face High Bar To Achieve Language Benchmarks
    Three years ago, a day shy of Valentine's Day, 36-year old Ibrahim and seven family members landed in Surrey, B.C., as part of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's signature Syrian Refugee Initiative.

    Refugees Hoping To Become Citizens Face High Bar To Achieve Language Benchmarks

    Liberal MP Adam Vaughan Apologizes For 'Whack' Tweet Aimed At Premier Doug Ford

    Liberal MP Adam Vaughan Apologizes For 'Whack' Tweet Aimed At Premier Doug Ford
    OTTAWA — A Liberal MP from Toronto has apologized for a tweet sent Saturday morning that many on Twitter took as a threat against Ontario Premier Doug Ford.    

    Liberal MP Adam Vaughan Apologizes For 'Whack' Tweet Aimed At Premier Doug Ford

    Frigid Winnipeg: Does 1 Of The Planet'S Coldest Big Cities Need Warming Centre?

    Frigid Winnipeg: Does 1 Of The Planet'S Coldest Big Cities Need Warming Centre?
    WINNIPEG — In a city where winter can be almost guaranteed to bring temperatures below -30 C, saving homeless people and other vulnerable persons from severe frostbite or even death is a complex project.    

    Frigid Winnipeg: Does 1 Of The Planet'S Coldest Big Cities Need Warming Centre?