Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault and the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, Sean Fraser, responded to Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) concerns over Minister Guilbeault’s recent comments implying the Government of Canada would stop investing in new road infrastructure.
CTA and other stakeholders, including provincial and municipal governments, expressed concern the comments could negatively affect the supply chain and impact future investment in Canada.
“Road infrastructure investment is critical to the current and future health of the Canadian supply chain and the Canadian economy,” wrote CTA president Stephen Laskowski. “It is critical that the Government of Canada continue to make investments in roads, highways, and bridge transportation infrastructure. Canada’s economy moves by truck, and it is this investment in infrastructure that will keep and attract investment to Canada.”
At a recent Parliamentary hearing, Minister Guilbeault stated that these investment comments were meant to refer only to a specific project in the Province of Quebec. He also responded to CTA’s letter by confirming there is “no change in the federal government’s infrastructure funding policy.”
The Minister also expressed interest in the results of CTA’s national survey of drivers and fleets regarding highway safety and infrastructure investment. Members are strongly encouraged to get their drivers involved. Please click here to take the survey.
Below are some highlights of the letter from Ministers Guilbeault and Fraser to CTA:
“To be clear, there has been no change in the federal government’s infrastructure funding policy. Since 2015, we have invested billions in roadways, bridges, ports, and highways. This includes over $643 million for more than 373 road and highway projects across the country through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. Additionally, communities across Canada use the dollars provided by the federal government through the Canada Community Building Fund to make similar investments.
The National Trade Corridors Fund has been a key driver of economic growth and job creation. Canadian producers, manufacturers and exporters need efficient and resilient supply chains to get goods to market, and the National Trade Corridors Fund has been critical to accelerate investments by governments and industry, including in roads, bridges and in digital infrastructure across the country.
The effects of climate change, including a shortened winter road season, also create new challenges for northern, rural and Indigenous communities from coast to coast to coast. We know that the safety, reliability and resiliency of transportation corridors are key for these communities, and we will be seeking solutions to support them.
Working with provincial, territorial, municipal, Indigenous, and private sector partners, the federal government is investing in projects of all types and sizes. In that regard, we look forward to continuing to engage with you and to the results of your national survey of professional truck drivers and fleets to get their views on the infrastructure needs and opportunities across Canada.
Thank you for sharing the Canadian Trucking Alliance’s perspective and priorities. We value its input and recognize the tremendous work its members do to deliver for Canadians. Please be assured that the Government will continue to make investments in roads, highways, and bridge transportation infrastructure.