Larry Bagnell, Member of Parliament for Yukon, on behalf of the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities; the Honourable John Streicker, Yukon Minister of Community Services; and His Worship Dan Curtis, Mayor of the City of Whitehorse, today announced funding for two public transit and two local road projects in the City.
The first two projects include the replacement of four buses from the existing fleet and building a new transit hub station in the city at the south east corner of 2nd Avenue and Steele Street. The new buses and transit hub will ensure residents in Whitehorse will have access to inclusive, efficient and safe public transit services around the city.
Funding will also go towards the reconstruction of Tlingit Street in the Marwell East section of Whitehorse, as well as various replacements and upgrades to road and sewer infrastructure on Cook Street.
The Government of Canada is investing $13.2 million in these projects through the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan. The Government of Yukon is providing over $3.3 million to the project, with the City of Whitehorse contributing $245,000.
Quotes
"Upgrading public transit helps our communities provide efficient and reliable services that transform the way Yukoners live, move, and work. The projects announced today will provide the residents of the city of Whitehorse with the infrastructure needed to travel across the community safely. This is an excellent example of what Yukoners can do when we work together at all levels of government to build stronger, more self-sustaining communities."
Larry Bagnell, Member of Parliament for Yukon, on behalf of the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
"Transit that meets the needs of residents is key to keeping our capital city inclusive, accessible and sustainable. Given its size, Whitehorse sets a standard for public transit in Canada. It's great to see this investment in public transit and we look forward to further collaboration with the City of Whitehorse and the Government of Canada."
The Honourable John Streicker, Yukon Minister of Community Services
"Over the years we've seen sustained growth in the number of people who use public transit. Any external funding we receive helps us improve the buses we use and the roads we drive on every day. We thank the federal and territorial governments for their continued support as we strive to enhance the way people travel within the city."
His Worship Dan Curtis, Mayor of the City of Whitehorse
Quick facts
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Through the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan, the Government of Canada is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada's rural and northern communities.
- $28.7 billion of this funding is supporting public transit projects, including $5 billion available for investment through the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
- More than $10.1 billion of this funding is supporting trade and transportation projects, including $5 billion available for investment through the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
- $2 billion of this funding is supporting infrastructure projects that meet the unique needs of rural and northern communities like facilities to support food security, local access roads and enhanced broadband connectivity. In addition, $400 million is being delivered through the Arctic Energy Fund to advance energy security in the territories.
- $4 billion of this funding is supporting infrastructure projects in Indigenous communities.
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On June 27, 2019, the Government of Canada launched two new strategies: Canada's Connectivity Strategy, which commits to connect all Canadians to high-speed internet, and Canada's first Rural Economic Development Strategy, which will spur economic growth and create good, middle class jobs for rural Canadians across the country.
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The Rural Economic Development Strategy leverages ongoing federal investments and provides a vision for the future, identifying practical steps to take in the short term, and serving as a foundation to guide further work.
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Central to Canada's Connectivity Strategy are historic new investments that are mobilizing up to $6 billion toward universal connectivity. They include a top-up to the Connect to Innovate Program, a new Universal Broadband Fund, and investments from the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
