Investment in public transit is essential. The program we've just discussed provides for multi-billion-dollar investments in support of public transit systems in all provinces. The Canada Infrastructure Bank has invested $1.3 billion in Montreal's Réseau express métropolitain, or REM.
In the future, however, it will be essential for us to respect the municipalities' ability to establish long-term plans. That's why we'll be establishing permanent programs to support investment in public transit systems.
When we make a decade-long commitment, for example, that encourages communities to develop a long-term vision, safe in the knowledge that the government will be there to support them. They can thus establish plans not only for public transit, but also for housing and other infrastructure, such as schools, health systems and recreational infrastructure.
Long-term planning is very important and has to be taken into account if we want to make good investments. That was important for past investments, and it's very important that we also continue making investments in the future.