Olivia Chow, MP

Olivia to Conservatives: Ditch the Limo, Get on the Bus

National Transit Strategy: NDP Transport Critic Urges Conservative Support

September 19, 2012

OTTAWA – Hours before a crucial vote on the National Transit Strategy Bill, MP Olivia Chow urged Conservative Minister Lebel and his colleagues to ditch the limo, get on the bus and support this important measure.

With the future of Canada’s public transit at stake, the vote on the National Transit Strategy Bill will show where Conservatives stand. Will they do what’s right for millions of Canadians or ignore our mounting mobility crisis?

Transcript:

Ms. Olivia Chow (Trinity—Spadina, NDP): Mr. Speaker, Canadians are tired and frustrated with traffic jams, overcrowded buses, or no bus at all. They want fast, reliable and accessible public transit and gridlock is costing the Canadian economy billions of dollars. That is why mayors, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the Canadian Urban Transit Association all want a national transit strategy.

Will the minister ditch his cozy limo, get on the bus and vote yes for the national transit strategy this afternoon?

Hon. Steven Fletcher (Minister of State (Transport), CPC): Mr. Speaker, I would like to first of all correct the member. I do not drive a limo, I think she can see that.

Our government has invested over $5 billion in transit infrastructure across Canada since 2006. We respect the jurisdictions of the provinces and the municipalities and work with them. The NDP seems to vote against all our initiatives rather than support our initiatives. Why?