With my colleague, the Hon. Jim Carr, Minister of International Trade Diversification, viewing the progress of the Southwest Transitway.
Winnipeggers who take Pembina Highway every day to get to work, school, or university know how frustrating the traffic congestion can get. Pembina Highway sees approximately 60,000 vehicles each weekday. This traffic volume is only going to increase over time as our city grows. Efficient and modern community infrastructure that alleviates the strain on Pembina Highway and ensures the reliability of our public transit with buses that run on time has been long overdue.
Recently, I had the opportunity to view the progress of the Southwest Transitway in Winnipeg, with the Hon. Jim Carr, Minister of Natural Resources, and Mr. Scott Payne, Manager of Transit’s Asset Management Office. This transit corridor, which is being developed with the help of federal government support, will run from downtown Winnipeg to the University of Manitoba (U of M), and will connect the U of M with the University of Winnipeg. Most importantly, the Transitway, which is expected to be operational by the spring of 2020, will also reduce the gridlock and strain on Pembina Highway.
We have been working hard to ensure that our federal government continues to invest in public infrastructure like the Southwest Transitway that makes a direct, positive impact on the lives of Winnipeggers. I’m pleased that two weeks ago, the Hon. Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, announced the signing of the bilateral infrastructure agreement between the governments of Canada and Manitoba.
With this agreement, which provides more than $1.1 billion in federal funding over the next decade, our federal government will be supporting unprecedented investments in public transit, green infrastructure, as well as recreational, cultural, and community infrastructure, across communities in Winnipeg and Manitoba. I have heard from many Winnipeg South residents who want to see greater federal support for infrastructure, and this bilateral agreement highlights the Government of Canada’s commitment to investing in Manitoba’s communities.
I would like to thank everyone who came out to my Constituency Open House a few weeks ago. It was a pleasure to meet with you and listen to your thoughts on how our federal government is doing. If you have any questions about federal policy or services, like CRA or immigration, please do not hesitate to contact my constituency office at 204-984-6787 or [email protected]. We would be happy to assist you and listen to your thoughts on how we can continue to build stronger communities in south Winnipeg.
