Where's the Federal Commitment to Public Transit in Canada?

"No longer can it be said that Canada's premiers lack ambition when it comes to public transit. Last year, leading up to his province's election, Ontario's Dalton McGuinty unveiled MoveOntario 2020, a $17.5-billion plan that promises 902 kilometres of new or improved rapid transit in the Greater Toronto Area and Hamilton. Now, taking into account his province's smaller size, British Columbia's Gordon Campbell has more than matched him. Last week he announced a $14-billion plan to add four new rapid-transit lines in Metro Vancouver, as well as an upgrade to "Rapidbuses" along major routes and the introduction of 1,500 new buses for municipalities across the province.

Like Mr. McGuinty's plan, Mr. Campbell's promises to do wonders in easing congestion and improving air quality. By 2020, the B.C. government suggests, it will double the province's public transit ridership, cutting transportation greenhouse-gas emissions by 4.7 million tonnes over that period. If so, it will help British Columbia meet its goal of reducing its carbon footprint by one third from 2007 levels. But, as in Ontario, all the ambition in the world won't be enough unless other levels of government share it.

[I]n both provinces, the big question mark is whether hopes of a public transit commitment from the federal government will be rewarded. [Canada's Feeral Infrastructure funding program] "Building Canada" is a grab bag of every imaginable infrastructure expenditure, including highways, railways, broadband access, tourism, waste management, culture and amateur sport. But upgraded public transit is not just one of these many "priorities." For urban centres battling congestion and struggling with air quality, it is a necessity. While the federal government has fiddled about with a pointless tax credit for transit users, Mr. McGuinty and Mr. Campbell have demonstrated that they understand real investment is needed. It is time for [Canadian Prime Minister Stephen] Harper to do likewise."