Federal Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault made some waves after intimating last week that no new roads were going to be built with federal money, no matter what the situation is.
“The analysis we have done is that the network is perfectly adequate to respond to the needs we have,” he was quoted as saying during a conference on public transit in Montreal on Monday. “And thanks to a mix of investment in active and public transit, and in territorial planning and densification, we can very well achieve our goals of economic, social and human development without more enlargement of the road network.”
He later clarified his comments.
“Of course we’re funding roads, we have programs to fund roads, but we have said, and maybe I should have been more specific in the past, is that we don’t have funds for large projects like the Troisième lien,” Guilbeault said, according to quotes published by CTV News.
Guilbeault’s was referring to a project that would connect Quebec City with the community of Levis.
Guilbeault’s words have triggered a number of responses, including from NWT MP Michael McLeod.
McLeod wasn’t available for an interview when asked by NNSL Media, but he did provide a statement on what Guilbeault said.
“I appreciate that Minister Guilbeault has clarified his statement regarding road construction, and that those remarks were specifically regarding a certain project in Quebec City,” said McLeod.
“The Prime Minister has also reinforced that our government’s commitment to building the transportation infrastructure Canadians need remains steadfast.”
McLeod added that his government has a strong record of investing in highways, roads, and bridges in the Northwest Territories and named the Tlicho Highway to Whatì, the access roads to Canyon Creek, Prohibition Creek, Mount Gaudet and the Great Bear River Bridge as some examples.
“I will continue to advocate for more projects like the Mackenzie Valley Highway that connect our communities and provide more reliable transportation networks for NWTers,” he added.
Infrastructure Minister Caroline Wawzonek was also unavailable for comment. She, too, released a statement on the matter.
“I’ve been getting questions on Canada’s commitment to funding large road projects going forward. I am relieved that Minister Guilbeault has clarified his remarks as addressing the transportation infrastructure gap is essential for the NWT to connect to opportunities,” she stated.
“Documents such as the Arctic and Northern Policy Framework are clear that that there is a need to address transportation challenges in remote parts of Canada’s north and the Arctic. As co-chair of the Council of Ministers Responsible for Transportation and Highway Safety, I will continue to monitor the situation and advance discussions with my colleagues across the country.”