In that vein, Ms. Reuter, I want to follow that up by saying I think that model, the approach that emphasizes ridership, is tremendously beneficial. Not only do large communities receive funding for transit, but so do medium-sized communities such as London, Ontario. I am one of the three MPs in the House of Commons representing London, which receives very sizable allocations. Just last month, London received its largest-ever funding commitment, and it's for transit—$204 million. The city is buzzing with excitement. There's no specific transit plan that is being funded at this time, because the city has yet to submit its business case for review and analysis, but there is an overwhelming consensus that we need better transit in the city. It is models like this that have allowed our city to receive its largest-ever funding commitment. I came to Ottawa in part to fight for better transit, and this makes it possible.
Under the previous government, Mr. Harper argued under what he called open federalism that the federal government should back away from infrastructure and put it in the hands of provinces. He reformed that view a bit later on, but generally that's the view he was wedded to at the outset.
The federal government is funding infrastructure up to 60% in small communities, and 40% for other projects, including transit. If we were to step back rather than step forward and embrace the idea that we have a real role to play, if municipalities were forced to really rely on the provinces for transit, what would that mean for municipalities? I don't think London's $204 million would have happened.