City of Delta Mayor George Harvie says he’s feeling discouraged and has lost confidence in the federal government supporting his city or Metro Vancouver.
Harvie, who is also chair of Metro Vancouver, was reacting to a news report on federal funding for new highway infrastructure projects, noting an assurance to fund the George Massey Tunnel replacement project had been made years ago but dollars, so far, have yet to be committed.
Adding it’s a similar story when it comes to important issues such as port policing and the Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade, Harvie told the Optimist a second exit out of Ladner is desperately needed as part of the tunnel and highway corridor project, but the province has indicated it’s up to how much financial support comes from Ottawa.
“As the mayor, I really don’t have confidence in the federal government. They have not provided any assurances that they are going to fund portions of the George Massey Tunnel replacement and no funding at all providing any funding for the second exit out of Ladner,” said Harvie.
“I haven’t heard from our MP (Carla Qualtrough) on either of these subjects and I hope to. It’s a case of Ottawa ignoring Metro Vancouver and, specifically, Delta…I’m really discouraged on behalf of Delta and hope things change.
“It’s always been that the federal government, in advance of the tunnel starting construction, is going to open up some funding in order that we could do a number of things, including putting in the second exit out of Ladner. That’s critical for us but, again, I’m very discouraged. Even in my meetings as chair of Metro Vancouver regarding housing sand infrastructure, it’s been very discouraging, the reaction from the federal government,” he added.
During a media event last December, Rob Fleming, BC’s Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, told the Optimist that the provincial government sympathizes with the City of Delta’s request for a second exit out of Ladner, but it will be up to whatever funding arrives from the feds.
Fleming said there is already an understanding about the importance of the Highway 99 corridor, the tunnel and its congestion problems. They had a commitment from Ottawa to help fund the project, but it is still not clear just how much federal dollars are coming.
A recent Delta staff report notes that the province is undertaking a feasibility planning study for the proposed new connection and indicated that a decision to advance the River Road Overpass would need to consider several factors, including the study results and securing federal funding.
The new tunnel is to be completed in 2030.
During a 20219 federal election campaign stop in North Delta, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told the Optimist money would be available from Ottawa. The provincial NDP government at the time had not selected a crossing option.
“We made the decision in 2015 that the federal government needed to be a partner investing in priorities for communities right across the country,” said Trudeau during the campaign stop. “We also made a determination that Ottawa wasn’t the best positioned to determine what exactly the communities’ needs were. We have been there with billions of dollars on the table to work in partnership with provinces and municipalities on their priorities.”
