NEWS Transit to get $66.3M trilateral government boost Nikki W esley/Metroland Oakville MP John Oliver announced Thursday (March 15) morning, local public transit will be receiving more than $26.5M in federal funding and $21.8M in provincial funding to help build new urban networks and service extensions, and $18M from the Town of Oakville Mayor Rob Burton announced the municipal government would be dedicated $18M towards the efforts. OT to use funding to build new networks and service extensions OAKVILLE - Oakville's public transit system is getting a combined invest ment of $66.3 million from three levels of government over the next decade to help build new urban net works and service exten sions. The joint announce ment was made Thursday morning, March 15, at the Oakville Transit facility on Wyecroft Road and is part of an overall bilateral agreement to dedicate more than $11.8 billion (in federal funding) and $10 billion (in provincial fund ing) to infrastructure pro jects. The projects, supported by the Investing in Canada plan, will be cost-shared with the Ontario govern ment, municipalities and other partners, stated a media release. Oakville Transit will re ceive approximately $26.5 million in federal funds, $21.9 million from the prov ince and $18 million from the Town of Oakville. "I believe long-term in vestments in infrastruc ture are key to building strong communities - con necting people, creating good jobs for the middle class, and building our economy and town for the future," said Oakville MP John Oliver. "Efficient and sustain able public transit plays an important role in keeping Oakville among the best places in the world to live, which is why I am so pleased to be announcing an unprecedented $26.5 million to support Oak ville Transit," he contin ued. "Collaboration and partnership between all levels o f government is critical to creating positive change; I look forward to working with municipal and provincial partners to continue to build this com munity today and for fu ture generations." The bilateral agree ment - signed by Minister of Infrastructure and Com munities Amarjeet Sohi and Ontario Minister of In frastructure Bob Chiarelli, on March 14 - is investing in four priority areas: public transit; green infrastruc ture; community, culture and recreation infrastruc ture; and rural and north ern community infrastruc ture. "At its cord, infrastruc ture is about people.," said Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn. "This will help im proved and maintain the (public transit) network that people in our commu nity use to get to work in the morning and return home to their loved ones at night." Pam Damoff, Oakville North-Burlington MP, said she knows of the impor tance public transit has on Oakville residents, having worked as a town council lor for the municipality be fore being elected to feder al parliament. "I have been working with my colleagues in par liament to advocate for transit funding for the past two years, so I am very pleased to see our govern ment making this unprece dented investment in pub lic transit infrastructure that will transform the way that residents of Oak ville live, move, work and play," she added. f f f l S T E V E N S O N W H E L T O N Ma cDONALD&SWAN LLP PERSONAL INJURY + MEDICAL MALPRACTICE Thinking of Retiring... Someday? Let's Talk. Experienced Trial Lawyers Serving Oakville, Milton and Burlington Visit our website to sign up for a free consultation. Peter Watson MBA, CFP, R.F.P., CIM, FC S I Jennifer Watson B.A. 220 Randall Street, Downtown Oakville 905-842-2100 peterwatsoninvestments.com fljTsW Lawyers.ca 905.842.3838 1540 Cornwall Road Suite 106, Oakville I P e t e r W v t s q n W il N V E S T M E N T S W E A L T H M A N A G E M E N T Since 1991 f- | O akville Beaver | Thursday, M arch 22, 2018 insidehalton.com