441-01926 (Transportation)

Transportation affects the daily lives of Canadians, and the Government is committed to providing travellers with a national transportation system that is safe, reliable, and continues to serve the transportation needs of all Canadians, including British Columbians.

Regarding intercity passenger rail services, the Government of Canada recognizes the importance that these services play in supporting the quality of life of Canadians, including seniors and students as well as rural, remote, and Indigenous communities. The Government will continue to support and transform these services to promote a cleaner transportation system.

That is why, the Government invested $210 million starting in 2023-24 to support maintenance on VIA Rail’s fleet used for long-distance and regional services. This includes VIA Rail’s services in British Columbia such as the Skeena service between Prince Rupert to Jasper and the Canadian running from Toronto to Vancouver. The Government has also invested more than $13 million in VIA Rail stations in British Columbia since 2018.

As noted, local public transit services also play an important part in connecting Canadians. This includes the West Coast Express, which provides Translink operated commuter rail service that connects Downtown Vancouver to Mission City, and points in between.

The Government of Canada works with partners, including the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure as well as Translink, to support public transit and active transportation networks. This support creates jobs and makes communities cleaner, more accessible, more sustainable, and livable for everyone. Since 2015, the Government has announced more than $30 billion for more than 1,400 public transit projects across the country. Through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP), the Government of Canada has allocated $33 billion to support infrastructure investments in Canada. Through ICIP, the Government is investing over $3.9 billion in British Columbia including support for the Millennium Line Broadway Extension project, the Expo and Millennium Upgrade Program project, and the Surrey Langley Skytrain project. As announced by the Prime Minister in 2021, the Government of Canada will invest billions of dollars to provide predictable federal public transit funding which will be available to support reliable, fast, affordable, and clean public transit solutions beginning in 2026-27 through the new permanent public transit funding.

The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring the national transportation system meets the mobility needs of Canadians and will continue to support and engage with provinces and territories in addressing these needs.