March 5th, 2020
To: Bill.Morneau@parl.gc.ca; Mona.Fortier@parl.gc.ca; budget2020@canada.ca
Cc: FINA@parl.gc.ca; Jonathan.Wilkinson.P9@parl.gc.ca; terry.beech@parl.gc.ca
Re: Pre-Budget Consultation 2020
Dear Ministers Morneau and Fortier, Finance Canada Officials, and Members of the Standing Committee on Finance:
I am reaching out to you today on behalf of the North Vancouver Chamber to endorse the 2020 Budget Submission put forward by Metro Vancouver’s Mayors’ Council on Regional Transportation.
The submission outlines three areas requiring federal investment, which will help TransLink add more service in response to record-breaking ridership growth and reduce GHG emissions:
- A Permanent Transit Fund – introduced in legislation in 2021 with funding starting in 2027 when current programs expire – providing approximately $375 million annually to TransLink to support future regional transit expansion.
- Immediate transition funding to bridge the gap in advance of a Permanent Transit Fund. $685 million is required by mid-2021 as the federal share of Phase Three Plan of the 10- Year Vision.
- Funding of $225 million to accelerate conversion of TransLink’s bus fleet to emissions-free battery electric technology starting in 2021.
With an estimated 20% ridership increase between 2016 and 2019, Metro Vancouver’s transit system is growing more quickly than anticipated. Without the funding needed, transportation demand will continue to outpace supply as one million additional people move to Vancouver in the next decade.
It is important to our community and the North Vancouver Chamber that TransLink receives the federal funding needed to supplement the funding already promised by the Provincial B.C. government to complete TransLink’s 10-Year Vision and fund the future regional transit expansion outlined in Transport 2050.
Transportation is the #1 economic issue on the North Shore of Metro Vancouver. The significant national Shipbuilding, Port and Clean economy investment in North Vancouver is employing people from across the entire Lower Mainland and Sea to Sky region. The North Vancouver port properties provide Canada with an efficient gateway to bulk goods from across our country to markets across the world. But, that investment is currently being throttled by the inability of employees to find affordable or convenient ways to get to work. Investment in transit infrastructure of this region is critical for business and it will provide tangible economic returns to communities both regionally and across Canada
Most sincerely,
Patrick Stafford- Smith MBA, P.Eng.
CEO, North Vancouver Chamber
Cc: The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson
Member of Parliament for North Vancouver
Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Terry Beech
Member of Parliament for Burnaby North-Seymour
