• $600 million in support of their rapid transit plan;
• $155.1 million (since 2004) through the provincial Gas Tax Program;
• $70.6 million for transit vehicle funding that supports the replacement of aging municipal transit bus fleets;
• $19.7 million in one-time transit infrastructure expansion, which includes the implementation of the PRESTO fare card system;
• $17 million in one-time funding to support a transitway and other transit improvements;
• $27.2 million in State of Good Repair Funding to assist OCTranspo in dealing with immediate fiscal pressures and help increase ridership, manage congestion and support the efficient movement of people and goods; and
• $22.9 million in one-time transit vehicle funding to ensure a smooth transition to the new multi-year vehicle funding program (OBRP) for one-third of the estimated costs of 2006 transit vehicle orders and refurbishment work.

This announcement is important news for our community. As the heart of Ottawa, many of our residents rely on public transit in their daily lives. In addition, our neighbours in the areas surrounding the city depend on transit to bring them into the core for work and for play – helping to generate important activity throughout our community. But most importantly, this investment will mean that more Ottawans are able to leave their cars at home; reducing congestion on our streets and making our community a safer and greener place for all of us.

I am very excited about this investment and what it will mean for our community. I hope that our federal and municipal partners will match our commitment so that we can get some shovels in the ground and move forward with rapid transit in Ottawa.