Issue
Public Transit & Infrastructure
Federal infrastructure funding flows mostly through the Canada Community-Building Fund (formerly the Federal Gas Tax Fund), the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, the Permanent Public Transit Fund (announced 2021, $3 billion per year starting 2026-27), and the Canada Infrastructure Bank. Federal-provincial-municipal transit projects under negotiation: Ontario Line in Toronto, REM de l'Est in Montreal (subsequently cancelled and restructured), Calgary Green Line, Vancouver Broadway and SkyTrain extensions, and Ottawa LRT Stage 3. Bill C-356 of 44-1 (Pierre Poilievre's PMB) would tie federal infrastructure transfers to municipal housing-start targets. Inter-city rail: VIA Rail Canada operates under federal Crown-corporation status; Bill C-236 of 44-1 (VIA Rail Canada Act) would establish VIA in statute. The 2025 federal Building Canada Act (Bill C-5) lets cabinet fast-track infrastructure projects designated as in the national interest.
Where parties stand
Compare side-by-side- Bloc QuébécoisBLOC
The Bloc Québécois supports federal transit funding through unconditional transfers to Quebec rather than direct federal program delivery, defends Quebec administrative control over the Quebec-portion of the permanent Canada Public Transit Fund ($3 billion per year starting 2026-2027), supports the Réseau express métropolitain (REM) light-rail expansion into the East and South Shore of Montreal, the projet de tramway de Québec under the Legault CAQ government, and the VIA Rail High-Frequency Rail Quebec-Toronto corridor with route through Quebec. Opposes federal funding flowing to Ontario auto-infrastructure projects disproportionate to Quebec's economic share.
Source - Conservative Party of CanadaCONSERVATIVE
The federal Conservative Party under Pierre Poilievre voted against the permanent Canada Public Transit Fund (announced at $3 billion per year starting 2026-2027) as overly bureaucratic, supports federal infrastructure funding tied to provincial-municipal accountability targets, opposed the federal-Ontario Eglinton Crosstown LRT funding under the Building Canada Fund as having gone over budget by approximately $4.8 billion versus the original 2010 estimate, supports completion of the Ontario Line subway under municipal-provincial-federal cost-share, and calls for full federal-provincial coordination on the Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific freight-rail capacity for the Asia-Pacific supply chain.
Source The Green Party of Canada under Elizabeth May and Jonathan Pedneault calls for a permanent federal Public Transit Operating Fund (currently transit funding is mostly capital-only, not operating), a national high-speed rail corridor connecting Québec City, Montréal, Ottawa, Toronto, and Windsor, full federal funding for intercity bus restoration after Greyhound's 2018 western withdrawal, and free transit for low-income riders under a federal-provincial cost-share.
Source- Liberal Party of CanadaLIBERAL
The federal Liberal Party under Mark Carney committed to the Canada Public Transit Fund providing $3 billion per year permanently starting in 2026-2027 (announced in the 2024 federal budget), supports completion of the Toronto Ontario Line and the Eglinton Crosstown LRT projects, has invested in the REM de l'Est planning in Montréal, and signed the bilateral agreement with British Columbia for the Surrey-Langley SkyTrain extension. Supports passenger-rail expansion through VIA Rail HFR (High-Frequency Rail) connecting Quebec City to Toronto, with a route-selection decision expected in 2026.
Source The federal NDP under Jagmeet Singh secured the permanent Canada Public Transit Fund commitment ($3 billion per year starting in 2026-2027 under the 2024 federal budget) as a deliverable of the now-collapsed Supply and Confidence Agreement. Supports free transit for low-income riders under federal-provincial cost-sharing, restoration of intercity bus service (Greyhound's 2018 western withdrawal left many small-and-medium communities without intercity coach service), and federal funding for the Quebec-Windsor HFR/HSR rail corridor. Opposes the Canadian National Railway's 2024 Mountain Subdivision sale to private interests.
Source
Bills affecting this issue
- Bill 26Municipal65th General Assembly of Nova ScotiaSecond reading
Halifax Regional Municipality Charter Amendment Act
Largest amendment to the Halifax Regional Municipality Charter since 1996. Updates HRM's planning powers and transit governance.
- C-28Federal45-1Second reading
An Act to amend the Aeronautics Act and other Acts
Aeronautics Act and related Acts amendments.
- C-264Federal45-1Second reading
An Act to repeal certain restrictions on shipping
Repeals certain restrictions on shipping.
- S-216Federal45-1In committee
An Act to declare the Chignecto Isthmus Dykeland System and related works to be for the general advantage of Canada
Chignecto Isthmus Dykeland System declared federal jurisdiction (Senate).
- C-5Federal45-1Royal assent
An Act to enact the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act
Sets up a fast-track approval regime for major infrastructure projects of national interest.
- Bill 212Provincial43rd Parliament of OntarioRoyal assent
Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act
Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act. Requires provincial approval before municipalities can add bike lanes.
- C-49Federal44-1Royal assent
An Act to amend the Canada—Newfoundland and Labrador Atlantic Accord Implementation Act and the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Resources Accord Implementation Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts
Atlantic Accord modernization. Extends offshore regulators to wind and renewables.
- C-58Federal44-1Royal assent
An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code and the Canada Industrial Relations Board Regulations, 2012
Federal anti-replacement-worker law affects port, rail, and air-transport strikes.
- S-273Federal44-1Third reading
An Act to declare the Chignecto Isthmus Dykeland System and related works to be for the general advantage of Canada
Chignecto Isthmus dyke system declared federal jurisdiction. Protects the only land link between Nova Scotia and the rest of Canada.
- C-385Federal44-1First reading
An Act to amend the Motor Vehicle Transport Act
Updates the federal Motor Vehicle Transport Act on the safety and operation of interprovincial trucks and buses.
- C-371Federal44-1First reading
An Act to amend the Canada Transportation Act (passenger rail service)
Canada Transportation Act passenger rail service.
- C-33Federal44-1Report stage
An Act to amend the Customs Act, the Railway Safety Act, the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, 1992, the Marine Transportation Security Act, the Canada Transportation Act and the Canada Marine Act and to make a consequential amendment to another Act
Customs + Railway Safety + Transportation of Dangerous Goods bundle (port modernization).
- C-52Federal44-1Second reading
An Act to enact the Air Transportation Accountability Act and to amend the Canada Transportation Act and the Canada Marine Act
Air Transportation Accountability Act.
- C-346Federal44-1First reading
An Act to amend the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 (certificate of competency)
Canada Shipping Act certificate-of-competency updates.
- C-259Federal44-1First reading
An Act to amend the Aeronautics Act (collision avoidance system)
Aircraft collision-avoidance equipment requirements.
- C-245Federal44-1Second reading
An Act to amend the Canada Infrastructure Bank Act
Canada Infrastructure Bank restructure with regional/Indigenous priorities.
- C-236Federal44-1First reading
An Act to continue VIA Rail Canada Inc. under the name VIA Rail Canada and to make consequential amendments to other Acts
Establishes VIA Rail Canada by statute.