The priority for me is economic growth as well as the quality of life of Canadian men and women and the environment. In the course of the next few weeks I will, I believe, have a meeting with the Montreal public transit agency. This is certainly a matter that I will discuss with Ms. Jérôme-Forget. This is an area of municipal jurisdiction and we respect these boundaries. Of course, a large number of projects to further public transit will be receiving aid, but within the framework of the Fonds Chantiers Canada, $4 million in new money was announced in the budget, and two things are essential. Firstly, it must be a new project. If we are only replacing federal money with municipal money or replacing provincial money with federal funds, there will be no increase in job creation. Secondly, we need the stimulus to take hold in the next 25 months. That will be essential, unless there are several $10-million projects for the municipalities and public transit associations everywhere in Quebec and in Canada. This is a priority I have made my own on behalf of the government, but also as Minister of Transport.
On February 10th, 2009. See this statement in context.