(February 28 – 17:30 ET) After years of lobbying by the provinces and municipal governments, Ottawa has agreed it is time for concerted action on the national infrastructure of roads, bridges and sewers.

Monday’s budget sets aside $100 million in the current fiscal year, $350 million in 2000-2001 and $550 million in each of four years afterward for highways and infrastructure.

At the rate of $550 million a year, $400 million will go for municipal infrastructure in urban and rural areas and $150 million will go for highways.

The budget also sets aside $200 million a year for the next five years for safety improvements to federal bridges, wharves and the refurbishment of federal laboratories.
-IE Staff