With the hoopla surrounding the OC Transpo strike, lost in the haystack of transit coverage is Ottawa’s share of the Building Canada fund, outlined in the 2008 & 2009 Federal Budget. While most citizens in Ottawa would look for what Ottawa received directly from the Federal Government, it is the Province that the City should turn to. Much of the infrastructure spending came in the form of transfer payments to the provinces. Infrastructure tends to be a product of the Province, and Ontario has an obligation to provide funding to Ottawa’s transit network.
While, Constitutional lines may dictate that the OC Transpo is a Federal jurisdiction, it does not discount the Province from providing Provincial transfer payments to the City. Historically, major cities such as Toronto or Montreal, which are under provincial jurisdiction, have received Federal transfer payments via the Province. Its only fair that Ottawa receive Provincial funding for transit infrastructure as well.
The well documented, Move Ontario 2020 transit funding injected $17.5 Billion into transit for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA). It represented the largest cash injection for transit in North America for any single Census Metropolitan Area. With the Light Rail debate back on the agenda after the infamous 51-day strike, it should be no surprise to McGuinty and company, that the provinces second largest city will come knocking.
Since the Move Ontario 2020 initiative included provisions that would support light rail in Toronto, Hamilton, York Region and Mississauga, it appears that Ottawa’s light rail plans are well in-line with the priorities of the Province. So with major infrastructure spending, slated in the Federal budget, and much of this spending in the form of transfer payments to provinces, Ottawa should expect funding to come from the Province. The ball is now in the hands of City Council to expediate the passing of a revised Transportation Master Plan that includes a major commitment to light rail.
