NORTH VANCOUVER, BC, July 23, 2020 /CNW/ - Helping communities recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic is a key part of the Safe Restart Agreement between the federal government and the provinces and territories.
Today, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, announced that $2 billion in federal funding—to be matched by provincial and territorial governments—will be made available to cities and towns across Canada. The funding will support front-line workers and critical municipal services as we keep people safe during the economic restart.
And to help cities keep their transit systems running so that Canadians can get to work and home to their families safely, the Government of Canada has also agreed to match up to $1.8 billion of provincial and territorial funding to support local public transit. For British Columbia, this means an additional $540 million in federal transit funding, which Minister Wilkinson announced today.
The Safe Restart Agreement is designed to support the economy and take the initial steps to recover from the impacts of COVID-19. Essential, front-line workers need good public transit; parents need child care; public health must be able to track and contain disease outbreaks; everyone requires personal protective equipment; and vulnerable communities—including seniors—need enhanced support as Canada gradually reopens while containing the spread of COVID-19.
These practical and essential services delivered by cities and towns across the country are among the seven priority areas in the $19 billion Safe Restart Agreement announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on July 16.
Quotes
"People across British Columbia, including those on the north shore of Vancouver, rely on public transit to get to and from work each day. The funding announced through the Safe Restart Agreement with the federal government and the provinces and territories will ensure the continued operation of this critical service. Investing in sustainable transportation is an important part of our government's plan to move toward a sustainable economy as we continue to build back better."
– The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Environment and Climate Change Canada's Twitter page
Environment and Climate Change Canada's Facebook page
SOURCE Environment and Climate Change Canada
Moira Kelly, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, 819-271-6218, [email protected]; Media Relations, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 819-938-3338 or 1-844-836-7799 (toll-free), [email protected]
Share this article