CTA says it’s eager to work with Harper’s government on hwy, border issues

OTTAWA — The Canadian Trucking Alliance is congratulating new Prime Minister-designate Stephen Harper’s election win on Monday, but also urged the Conservative Party to keep campaign promises about providing stable, permanent funding for highway and border infrastructure.

Prior to the election, the Conservatives committed to negotiating a new infrastructure agreement with the provinces. Their proposed Highways and Border Infrastructure Fund would commit to a federal investment of $2 billion over the next five years, reaching $600 million by 2010. (The TransCanada Highway would be the centre piece of the program.)

The Conservatives also stated they intend to develop a National Road Congestion Index to track progress in reducing road congestion, and work towards reducing congestion levels in municipalities across Canada.

The party also states they would maintain existing federal infrastructure agreements entered into between the previous federal government, the provinces, and municipalities. They said they would support the development of the Pacific Gateway Initiative, designating at least $591 million to the initiative. And they promised to maintain the funding for the New Deal for Cities and Communities and fully implement the transfer of the equivalent of five cents per litre of fuel to cities and communities by 2009-10 for municipal infrastructure.

“CTA is looking forward to working with the new government to increase efficiency at the borders and improve the state of Canada’s main trade corridors,” said CTA CEO David Bradley.