Canada’s New Prime Minister Backs Transportation Initiatives

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ew Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has pledged $1.75 billion dollars over the next five years toward highway and border infrastructure, including the TransCanada Highway.

he TransCanada highway is a nearly 5,000-mile-long highway that stretches from Victoria, British Columbia, to St. John’s, Newfoundland.

Harper, leader of Canada’s Conservative Party, was sworn in Wednesday following the Jan. 23 elections, ending 13 years of Liberal Party control.

David Bradley, chief executive officer of the Canadian Trucking Alliance, said he would like the budget also to include incentives for new, cleaner diesel engines and anti-idling technologies to make it easier for trucking companies to re-equip their fleets.

Harper also said he would support the Pacific Gateway Initiative, for a trade and transportation hub in Vancouver, B.C., aimed at facilitating the flow of goods across the Pacific Ocean.

He designated at least $500 million to the measure, which would include roads, bridges, ports and airports.

Harper also said he would support the development of a national road congestion index to track road congestion, and work towards reducing traffic bottlenecks in municipalities across Canada.