Phase II of the Ottawa LRT in question after Ford makes $1.4 Billion in cuts to Ontario’s transit infrastructure budget

Phase II of Ottawa’s LRT could be under threat after funding earmarked for transit infrastructure dropped by $1.4 billion in Doug Ford’s Fall Economic Statement.

Ottawa Centre NDP MPP Joel Harden called out the government for neglecting to include Phase II in their Fall Economic Statement.

“In 2016, the provincial government committed $1 billion in funding for Phase II of the Ottawa LRT and construction is scheduled to begin next year,” said Harden. “But Doug Ford’s Fall Economic Statement makes absolutely no reference to this project. Instead, it shows only a $1.4 billion cut to transit infrastructure spending, compared to the 2018 budget number.”

“Will the minister confirm that the province will fund $1 billion towards the second phase of the Ottawa LRT, so that construction can begin next year as planned?”

In response, the minister remained cagey and unclear, leaving the people of Ottawa to wonder if the city is going to be left on the hook for $1 billion needed to complete this project.