Waiting on the feds for Bombardier streetcar money

Thunder Bay and Bombardier are waiting on Ottawa to deliver its share of a $1.2 billion investment to buy new streetcars for Toronto.

Premier Dalton McGuinty and Toronto Mayor David Miller were in Thunder Bay, June 19, to pledge $771 million funding for European-style cars which would be made at the Bombardier plant on Montreal Street.

Toronto's aging fleet would be replaced by 204 cars expected to be in service by 2012. The new cars are more energy efficient and can carry 50 per cent more passengers.

The province is investing $416 million with Toronto earmarking $355 million.

So far, federal Transport Minister John Baird has been noncommittal. Ottawa said the streetcar project doesn't meet the criteria under the fed's economic stimulus fund, but that hasn't stop the politicians from hailing the project, which Bombardier said would create 5,000 direct jobs and 10,300 indirect jobs in Ontario.

“The provincial commitment will not only ensure Toronto is able to improve its public transit system, it will stimulate the economy by creating high-paying manufacturing, engineering and construction jobs in Ontario and across Canada,” said Toronto Mayor Miller in a statement.

“This is great news for Thunder Bay, as Bombardier is a crucial contributor to our local economy,” said Northern Development and Mines Minister Michael Gravelle. “Our government recognizes that investing in important infrastructure projects like this one will make us even stronger when we emerge from these tough economic times.”